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UNIVERSITY    LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

AT 

AMHERST 


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HISTORIC  HOMES  AND  INSTITUTIONS 

/ 

AND 

genealogical  ana  Personal  ll^emoirs 

OF 

BERKSHIRE  COUNTY, 

MASSACHUSETTS. 


EDITED  BY 

ROLLIN  HILLYER  COOKE, 

// 

Genealogist,   Author  of  "  Picturesque  Berkshire  County,"   Member  of  the 

Berkshire  County  Historical  and  Scientific  Society,  and  Secretary 

OF  the  Berkshire  County  Chapter,  Massachusetts  Society, 

Sons    of   the    American    Revolution. 


"And  so  it  i?,  too,  with  family  recollections.  To  have  had  forefathers  renowned  for 
honorable  deeds,  to  belong  by  nature  to  those  who  have  bravely  borne  their  part  in  Hfe 
and  refreshed  the  world  with  mighty  thoughts  and  healthy  admiration,  is  a  privilege 
which  it  were  mean  and  self-willed  to  despise.  It  is  as  a  security  given  for  us  of  old, 
which  it  were  falsehearted  not  to  redeem;  and  in  virtues  bred  of  a  noble  stock,  mellowed 
as  thev  arc  by  reverence,  there  is  often  a  grace  and  ripeness  wanting  to  self-made  and 
brand-new  excellence.  Of  like  value  to  a  people  are  heroic  national  traditions,  giving 
them  a  determinate  character  to  sustain  among  the  tribes  of  men,  inaking  them  familiar 
with  images  of  great  and  strenuous  life,  and  kindling  them  with  faith  in  glorious 
possibilities." —MrtrffHt'aM. 

ILLUSTRATED 

VOLUME  1 


New  York      ::      Chicago 
THE  LEWIS   PUBLISHING  CO. 

igo6 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  history  of  Berkshire  county,  civil,  pohtical  and  mihtary,  has 
been  written  by  vari(Ais  authors  and  at  various  times,  each  succeeding 
writer  adding  a  new  chapter  of  annals,  or  treating  his  subject  from  a 
different  viewpoint.  Such  history,  however,  spjendid  narrative  that 
it  is,  is  principally  concerned  with  what  has  been  accomplished  by  the 
people  in  the  mass,  and  takes  little  note  of  indi\-iduals,  except  those 
so  pre-eminent  as  leaders  as  to  come  under  the  full  glare  of  fame. 

Hence  it  follows  that  genealogical  and  family  memoirs  are  of 
peculiar  importance,  including,  as  they  do,  the  personal  annals  of  those 
who  make  heroes  and  heroism  possible — those  who  ha\e  marched  in 
the  ranks  of  progress,  bearing  the  heat  and  Ijurden  of  th.e  day — por- 
traying the  spirit  which  actuated  them,  and  holding  up  their  effort 
for  an  example  to  those  who  come  afterward.  As  was  written  by 
Martineau :  "  To  have  forefathers  renowned  for  honorable  deeds,  to 
belong  by  nature  to  those  who  have  bravel\-  borne  their  part  in  life 
and  refreshed  the  world  with  mightv  thoughts  and  healthy  admiration, 
is  a  privilege  which  it  were  mean  and  self-willed  to  despise.  It  is  a 
security  given  for  us  of  old,  which  it  were  false-hearted  not  to  redeem; 
and  in  virtues  bred  of  a  noble  stock,  mellowed  as  they  are  by  rever- 
ence, there  is  often  a  grace  and  ripeness  waaiting  to  self-made  and 
brand-new  excellence.  Of  like  A-alue  to  a  people  are  heroic  national 
traditions,  giving  them  a  detcrnu'ned  character  to  sustain  among  the 
tribes  of  men,  making  them  familiar  with  images  of  great  and 
strenuous   life,   and   kindling  them   with   faith   in   glorious  possibilities.'' 

The  county  of  Berkshire  affords  a  peculiarly  interesting  field  for 
a  study  of  family  traits,  individual  character  and  personal  achieve- 
ments.  To  its  soil  came  a  sturd}'  people — men,  and  women,  too,  of  brawn 


iv  INTRODUCTORY 

and  brain  and  conscience,  their  hearts  fer^•ent  in  reverence  of  God  and 
love  for  religions  and  political  liberty.  They,  came  np  ont  of  great 
tribnlations.  They  were  of  that  overflow  from  Plymonth  which  trav- 
ersed an  nnbroken  wilderness  to  make  homes  where  were  savages, 
and  to  conqner  primeval  nature.  These  pioneers  builded  better  than 
they  knew. 

"For  good  is  not  a  shapely  mass  of  stone, 

Hewn  by  man's  hand  and  worked  by  him  alone. 

It  is  a  seed  God  suffers  liim  to  sow — 

Others  will   reap,   and   when   the  harvests  grow. 

He   giveth    increase   through    all    coming   years, 

And  lets  men  reap  in  joy  seed  that  was  sown  in  tears." 

Simple  and  cle^'.n  in  their  lives,  as  were  these  early  settlers,  the 
homes  which  they  builded  were  humble,  imt  they  were  the  seat  of  all 
the  virtues  that  constitute  ideal  manhood  and  womanhood.  The  cour- 
age, fortitude  and  acti\'ity  displayed  by  these  hardy  pioneers  was  most 
remarkable,  and,  when  the  struggle  for  national  independence  came, 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  their  illustrious  sires  were  not  wanting  in 
patriotism  and  devotion,  freely  sacrificing  comfort,  life  and  property, 
that  they  might  becjueatli  to  the  generations  that  should  follow  them 
a  free  liberal  government  "of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the 
people."  These  founders  of  the  olden  time  gave  a  pregnant  interpre- 
tation to  the  words  of  Bishop  Berkeley :  "  Westward  the  course  of 
empire  takes  its  way,"  for  from  then]  came  an  overflow  which  was 
destined  to  continue  until  it  reached  the  far-off  Pacific — men  and 
women  to  carry  forth  and  perpetuate  that  plain,  sturdy  personal  char- 
acter of  manhood  and  womanhood  for  which  Xew  England  people 
have  gained  so  large  a  degree  of  renown.     \An-ierever  the  New'  Eng- 


INTRODUCTORY  v 

lander  lias  planted  his  home,  there  tlie  clmrch  and  the  school  house 
are  found  as  monuments  of  his  personality.  Nor  is  this  all.  He 
prides  himself  in  thrift,  and  the  reward  that  comes  as  the  fruit  of 
honest  toil  and  endea\or.  and,  \vhere\'er  placed,  has  proved  a  power 
for  ideal  citizenshi])  and  good  government — for  that  righteousness 
which  exalteth  a  nation. 

In  each  generation,  and  at  every  stage  of  progress,  the  people 
of  Berkshire  count)-  \ya\q  had  the  service  of  men  of  the  loftiest  char- 
acter and  highest  capaljility,  in  arms,  in  the  arts  of  peace,  in  states- 
manship, in  affairs  and  in  letters.  It  is  to  connect  the  active  progres- 
sive men  of  the  present  generation  with  their  illustrious  ancestrv.  that 
the  present  vokunes  were  undertaken,  in  the  conviction  that 

"  It  is  irideed  a  hlessing  when  the  \irtues 
Of  nohle  races  are  hereditary, 
And  do  derive  themselves  from  the  imitation 
Of  virtuous  ancestors.'' 

The  honor.ahle  ancestr\'  which  helongs  to  the  people  of  Berkshire 
county  is  a  nohle  heritage,  and  the  stor}-  of  its  achievements  is  a  sacred 
trust  committed  to  its  descendants,  upon  whom  devolves  the  perpetua- 
tion of  their  record.  Ilistory  is  constantly  making,  and  that  of  yes- 
terday and  toda}'  is  as  important  in  its  place  as  that  of  the  centuries 
past.  Throughout  the  county  are  those  who  are  memorialized  in  these 
pages,  through  whose  sag'acity,  determination  and  philanthropy  states 
and  communities  ha^■e  been  benefited  in  material  ways,  and  in  religious, 
educational  ;\nd  political  affairs — in  all  that  stands  for  progress  and 
improvement. 

It  W'as  the  consensus  of  opinion   of  the  gentlemen,   well  informed 


vi  INTRODUCTORY 

and  loyal  to  the  memories  of  the  past,  who  were  consulted  with  refer- 
ence to  the  matter,  that  the  editorial  supervision  of  Mr.  Rollin  H. 
Cooke  in  the  preparation  and  completion  of  the  material  for  these 
pages  would  insure  the  liest  results  attainable  in  tliese  deeply  interest- 
ing" channels,  through  his  long  and  active  identification  with  historical 
and  patriotic  societies,  his  unflagging  industry  in  the  pursuit  of  general 
inforniation  drawn  at  first  hands  from  court  and  church  archives  and 
family  records  throughout  the  cotmty,  and  that  ample  experience  in 
their  tabulation  for  practical  use  which  afforded  him  a  widely  known 
pre-eminence.  His  work  was  performed  with  conscientious  thorough- 
ness, but  he  was  not  permitted  to  witness  its  completion.  It  is  to  be 
said,  liowever,  that  \\hat  he  so  auspiciously  began  could  not  have  been 
brought  to  its  conclusion  save  as  a  result  of  labors  after  the  plans 
which  he  formulated.  Further,  none  of  the  subjects  upon  wdiich  his 
heart  was  deeply  set  has  been  omitted  or  neglected.  It  is  a  matter 
of  peculiar  interest  that  he  penned,  in  addition  to  biographical  ma- 
terial, the  narratives  (in  this  work)  of  the  Berkshire  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, the  Berkshire  Historical  Society,  and  the  Berkshire  County 
Chapter  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  he  being  secretary 
and  registrar  of  the  latter  body  when  he  wrote  it.  These  narratives 
have  been  somewhat  extended  by  other  hands  to  bring  them  down  to 
a  later  date.  Among  those  to  wdiom  credit  is  due  is  W.  G.  Harding, 
in  relation  to  the  Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  Society,  and  Joseph 
E.  Peirson,  of  the  Berkshire  County  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution.  The  publishers  also  acknowledge  their  obligations  for  like 
information  to  Harlan  H.  Ballard,  librarian  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum 
and  Museum;  Mrs.  J.  P.  Goodrich,  of  the  Fort  Massachusetts  Histori- 
cal Society;  Mrs.  Hattie  Cooley  Stevenson,  of  Peace  Party  Chapter, 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution;  and  Dr.  John  Bascom,  of  the 


INTRODUCTORY  vii 

Grevlock  Reservation  Commission.  As  sources  of  information  the  pub- 
lishers gratefully  acknowledge  their  obligations  to  Eugene  Bouton's 
"  History  of  Berkshire  County,"  and  to  that  by  Charles  J.  Palmer. 
They  are  also  thankfull}'  indebted  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Pittsfield 
Eagle  and  the  authorities  of  Williams  College  for  various  illustrations, 
and  to  W.  H.  Lyon,  of  Pittsfield,  for  portraits  of  prominent  citizens 
represented  in  this  work. 

The  founding  of  Williams  College,  the  vicissitudes  of  its  progress 
and  its  widely  useful  achievements — a  history  abounding  in  picturesque 
incidents  as  well  as  in  events  of  world-wide  importance — these  have 
been  appreciatively  written  of  in  this  work  by  Mr.  Leverett  W.  Spring, 
who  brings  to  his  task  genuine  enthusiasm  and  accurate  knowledge. 

With  reference  to  the  biographical  matter  contained  in  these  pages, 
it  is  to  be  said  that  in  its  preparation  the  publishers  have  observed  the 
utmost  care.  With  such  a  mass  of  material,  as  a  matter  of  necessity, 
the  work  must  needs  be  committed  to  various  writers.  If,  in  some 
cases,  the  sketch  should  be  incomplete  or  faulty,  the  shortcoming  is 
entirely  ascribable  to  the  paucity  of  data  furnished,  many  families  being 
without  exact  records  in  their  family  line.  In  all  cases  sketches  have 
been  submitted  to  the  subject  or  to  his  representative,  for  correction  or 
revision,  and  upon  him,  in  case  of  question,  rests  the  ultimate  re- 
sponsibility. 

It  is  believed  that  the  present  work  will  prove  a  real  addition  to 
the  mass  of  literature  concerning  the  people  of  the  historic  region  under 
consideration,  and  that,  without  it,  much  valuable  information  therein 
contained  would  be  irretrievably  lost,  owing  to  the  passing  away  of 
many  custodians  of  family  records  and  the  disappearance  of  such  ma- 
terial. 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


INDEX. 


Adams,  John   S.,  329. 
Andrews,  Selden  D.,  320. 
Avers,  Thaddeus  Z.,  397. 
Aymar,    Frederick    S.,   398. 

Bagg,   Allen   H.,  203. 
Baldwin.   Earle   G.,   370. 
Barker,  George,  427. 
Barker,  James   M.,   195. 
Bartlett,   Oliver  L.,  212. 
Baudouin,   Clevis   N.,   2)21. 
Benz.   Henry   C,   319. 
Bidwell,  Orlando  C.,  364. 
Blanchard.    Randall   H.,   243. 
Boom,  Augustus  K.,  193. 
Bossidy,  Patrick  H.,  419. 
Bouton,  Eugene,  283. 
Bradley,  George  W.,  399. 
Brown,  Martin  M.,  z~^- 
Browne,  Charles  A..  287. 
Browne,  William    B.,    290. 
Browning,   George,   368. 
Burlingame,  Salmon.  378. 
Burns,  James  M.,  350. 
Burns,  Louis,   394. 
Burns,  William   A.,   351. 

Callender,  Edmund  E..  173. 
Camp,  Charles  W.,  244. 
Camp,  Samuel,  244. 
Cavanaugh,  Mortimer  T.,  390. 
Chapin,  Clifford  S.,  345. 
Chesney.   Cunnnings    C,    199. 
Church,  George,    167. 
Church,  John  H.  C.  248. 
Chiuxhill,  John,  302. 
Clapp.  The   Family,   190. 
Clark,  George  W.,  271. 
Coffing,  John  H.,  225. 
Coleman,   William   H.,   308. 
Colt,    Henry,    293. 


Cock,  Franklin  B.,  362. 
Cooke,  Rollin  H.,  265. 
Cooper,  George  H.,  300. 
Crane,  James  B.,  97. 
Crane,  Mary  E.,  98. 
Crane,  The  Family,  87. 
Crane.  Winthrop  M.,  103. 
Crane,  Zenas,  109. 
Crane,  Zenas,  87. 
Crane,  Zenas  M.,  93. 
Cronin,  Daniel  F.,  391. 
Crosby,  John  C,  144. 
Crowell,  Harvey  S.,  299. 

Daly,  William  A.,  332. 
Dawes,  Henry  L.,  375. 
Demont,  William  H.,  406. 
Desmond,  Almon  A.,  322. 
DeVall,  William  J.,  366. 
Dodge,  Edgerton  E.,  312. 
Dowlin,   Fred   F.,  231. 
Drowne,  Charles  N.,  315. 
Dnmbell.  Howard  M.,  336. 

Eddy.  Titus  E..  344. 
Fells,  John  H.,  325. 
Engstrom,  Ernst  O.,  425. 
Enright,  James  J.,  383. 
Enright,  Thomas,  382. 

Fahey,  William  A..  356. 
Fallon.  William  H.,  385- 
Feiner,  Adolph,  386. 
Francis,  Henry  A.,  139. 
Fuller.  William   A..  409. 

Giddings,  Charles.  338. 
Gimlich,  Jacob,  281. 
Glentz,  Harley  C.  275. 
Glentz.  Theodore  R.,  274. 
Goodrich.  The  Family.  98. 
Gross.  William  H.,  297. 


INDEX 


IX 


Hall,  Almon  E,  358. 
Hall,  George  E.,  128. 
Hall,  George  F.,  122. 
Hayden,  Thomas  H.,  352. 
Holmes,  Levi  M.,  354. 
Hubbel,  George  C,  2>77- 
Hubbell,  Andrew  L.,  383. 
Hull,  James  V/.,  iii. 

Jones,  Edward  A.,  156. 
Jones,  Edward  D.   G.,   152. 

Kellogg,  Ensign  H.,  221. 
Kelly,  John  F.,  278. 
Kennedy,  Alexander,  230. 

Maclnncs,  William  D.,  213. 
Martin,  Charles  C.,  215. 
McLaughlin,  Thomas  H.,  340. 
McNulty,   William   B.,  264. 
Merchant,  Louis  A.,  310. 
Miller,  George  F.,  376. 
Miller,  James  F.,  228. 
Millet,  Wilfrid  A.,  246. 
Morton,  William  S.,  416. 

Nickerson,  Thomas  W.,  Jr.,  276. 
Noxon,  John  F.,  257. 

Parker,  James  K.,  347. 
Plumb,  Arthur  W.,  305. 
Pomcroy,  Theodore,  148. 

Quackenbush,   Cebra.  186. 

Ramsdell,  Theodore  G.,  238. 
Rice.  William  B.,  163. 
Richmond,  Clinton  Q.,  128. 
Roberts,"  Frederick  A.,  237. 
Roberts.  Oscar  S.,  114. 


Russell,  Franklin   W.,   209. 
Russell,  Henry  R.,  211. 
Russell,  Hezekiah  S.,  210. 
Russell,  John  C,  171. 
Russell,  Parley  A.,  170. 
Russell,  Solomon  L.,  207. 
Russell,  Solomon  N.,  206. 
Russell,  The  Family,  204. 

Sabin,  Charles  D.,  270. 
Seeley,  John  M.,  219. 
Slocum,  Edward  T.,  258. 
Smith,  Amos,   387. 
Smith,  Henry  M.,  421. 
Smith,  John  D.,  249. 
Southworth,  Constant,  346. 
Stevenson,  John  M.,  252. 
Swift,  Lawrence  C,  136. 

Todd,  John,   179. 
Tucker,  George  H.,  286. 
Tucker,  George  J..   286. 
Tucker.  Joseph,   118. 

V/arren,  Francis  E.,  158. 
Waterman.  Andrew  J.,  234. 
Waters,   Frank   M.,  408. 
W^easer,  W'illiam  H.,  424. 
Welch,  Thomas  P.,  348. 
W'eston,  Byron,  402. 
Weston,  Franklin,  405. 
Weston,  The   Family,   401. 
Whitaker,  Valmore  A.,  412. 
White,  Henry  M.,  422. 
White,  John,   291. 
Whitlock,  F.  W..  381. 
Wilcox,  Marshall,   175. 
Wood.  Joseph  H..   131. 
Wood,  William  P.,  133. 


BERKSHIRE    COUNTY. 


HISTORICAL  NARRATIVE. 

As  Berkshire,  in  the  Valley  of  the  llianies,  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  counties  of  England,  so  is  its  American  namesake  one  of  the 
most  picturesque  in  all  the  Xew  \\'orl(l.  As  described  by  Godfrey 
Greylock,  it  is  a  "  region  of  hills  and  valleys,  of  lake  and  stream.  The 
inexhaustible  variety  of  its  vistas  is  wonderful.  It  is  mar\-elous  in  its 
endless  series  of  combinations.  \Mierever  one  goes  he  meets  a  suc- 
cession of  changes  which  at  once  charm  the  eye  and  delight  the  heart. 
For  material  ends,  the  county  is  rich  in  ijrdductixe  farm  lands,  fine 
water  power,  luxuriant  timber,  iron  and  marble."'  It  affords  a  peculiarly 
interesting'  and  instructive  field  for  nearly  every  class  of  observers  and 
students — -the  scientist,  the  historian,  the  antiquarian,  the  philosopher, 
the  poet  and  the  painter,  and  all  these  ha\e  gained  knowledge  or  in- 
sjjiration  within  its  borders. 

The  Berkshire  region  presents  a  wonderfully  picturesque  diversi- 
fication of  mountain  and  walley,  and  scarcely  can  lie  found  a  viewpoint 
which  does  not  command  a  landscape  of  surpassing  beauty.  The  moun- 
tains ha\'e  for  their  principal  peak  the  world-famous  Greylock,  rising 
to  an  altitude  of  more  than  thirty-five  hundred  feet.  The  Hoosac  range 
is  famous  for  its  great  railroad  tunnel  nearly  five  miles  in  length.  This 
and  the  Taconic  range  embrace  a  valle}"  of  from  five  to  ten  miles  in 
width,  with  minor  valleys  enclosed  by  side  spurs  of  the  mountains. 
The  Taconic  range  is  crowned  by  j\lt.   Everett,   rising  to  a  height  of 


2  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

2624  feet.  Besides,  there  are  numerous  otlier  lofty  peaks  which,  seen 
fr.om  a  distance,  adorn  the  hnidscape,  and,  when  surmounted,  command 
an  admirable  view  of  ^•alle^•  and  stream. 

Grand  old  Greylock  is  made  extended  mention  of  elsewhere  in 
this  narrative.  Mount  Everett,  in  the  town  of  Mt.  Washington,  in 
the  extreme  southwestern  part  of  the  county,  is  scarcelv  less  famous. 
Indeed,  at  one  time  it  was  more  widely  known  and  more  generally  vis- 
ited. These  two  great  peaks  have  been  termed  "  the  twin  sentinels  of 
the  county."  Dr.  Timothy  Dwight,  in  his  "  Travels  in  New  England," 
wrote  of  Mount  E^'erett : 

'■'  Taghconic,  clad  at  this  time  in  misty  grandeur,  partly  embosomed 
and  partly  capped  by  clouds,  particularly  ornaments  the  landscape.  Its 
sides  are  not  precipitous,  nor  its  summit  angular,  but  it  is  everywhere 
limited  l\v  lines  which  are  flowing  and  graceful.  This  fact  has  always 
appeared  to  some  to  sensibly  diminish  its  magnificence ;  still  it  is  a 
highly  sublime  object." 

In  1845  Dr.  Edward  Hitchcock,  president  of  Amherst  College,  made 
the  ascent  of  the  mountain,  and  remarked  in  his  printed  account  of  his 
trip:  "  It  is  surprising  how  little  is  known  of  this  scenei'y  in  other  parts 
of  Massachusetts.  I  doubt  whether  nine  out  of  ten  of  oiu*  intelligent 
citizens  beyond  Berkshire  county  are  not  ignorant  of  the  existence  of 
such  a  to\\nship  within  our  limits.  And  even  in  the  vicinity,  very  few 
have  ever  heard  of  the  scenery  of  that  place,  which  almost  repays  a 
lover  of  nature  for  a  voyage  across  the  Atlantic." 

On  this  visit  Dr.  Hitchcock  gave  the  mountain  the  name  of  Mount 
Everett,  it  having  been  previously  known  as  **  the  Peak,"  or  "  Tagh- 
conick."  Dr.  Hitchcock's  innovation  was  exceedingly  distasteful  to 
Dr.  Orville  Dewey,  who  protested  vigorously,  and  he  was  warmly  sec- 
onded by  Miss  Catherine  Sedgwick,  who  penned  the  following  lines : 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  3 

Oh,  call  it  not  Mount  Everett ! 

Forever  'tis  the  Dome 
Of  the  great  temple  God  has  reared 

In  this  our  Berkshire  home. 

And  let  the  name  the  red  man  gave 

To-  all  this  mountain  range 
So'  sacred  be  that  other  term 

Shall  seem  an  utterance  strange. 

Taghconick — what  that  name  imports — 

Has  been  but  vainly  guessed, 
As  Urim  let  it  reverence  claim, 

Worn  on  that  rugged  breast. 

Berkshire  is  essentially  a  land  of  lakes.  They  number  fifty  or 
more,  and  lie  for  the  greater  part  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  county. 
Most  widely  known  abroad,  probably,  is  "  The  Stockbridge  Bowl," 
the  proper  name  of  which  is  Lake  Mahkeenac,  and  which  was  the  sub- 
ject of  a  poem  by  Mrs.  Sigourney : 

"  And  many  a  son  of  Berkshire  skies, 

Those  men  of  noble  birth, 
Though  now,  perchance,  their  roofs  may  rise 

In  far,  or  foreign  earth — 
Shall  on  this  well  remembered  vase 

With  thrilling  bosom  gaze, 
And  o'er  its  mirror'd  surface  trace 

The  joys  of  earlier  days."  '  • 


4  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Otlier  lakes  famons  for  their  beauty  are  Pontoosuc  lake,  Onota 
lake,  and  Lake  Biiel. 

None  of  the  numerous  Avatercourses  are  navigable,  but  the  waters 
of  several  afford  power  for  various  industrial  establishments.  The 
Housatonic  river  pursues  a  meandering  course  of  about  seventy  miles 
before  its  escape  beyond  the  ccnmty  Ijounds.  It  is  formed  by  two  prin- 
cipal streams  ^^•hich  have  their  union  in  Pittsfield — the  eastern  branch, 
made  by  the  rivulets  from  the  hills  of  Windsor,  Peru,  Hinsdale,  and 
Washington ;  and  the  western  branch,  which  has  its  fountain  head  near 
the  southern  border  of  New  Ashford.  The  Plousatonic  flows  southerly 
through  Lenox,  Lee  and  Stockbridge,  along  the  western  base  of  Monu- 
ment mountain,  and  thence  onward  into  and  through  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, until  it  kjses  itself  in  Long"  Island. 

The  ])rinci|jal  afiluent  of  the  Housatonic  is  Green  river.  Next  of 
importance  after  the  Housatonic  is  the  Hoosac,  flowing  through 
Cheshire,  Adams  and  North  Adams,  along  the  north  side  of  Greylock, 
and  on  into  Vermont.  Among  other  streams  are  the  Farmington,  the 
Deerfield,  and  the  Westfield.  It  is  said  that  in  the  tmvn  of  Peru  is  a 
house  so  situated  upon  a  mountain  peak  that  the  rain  from  one  of  the 
sides  of  its  roof  falls  into  the  W^estfield,  and  that  from  the  other  side 
into  the  Housatonic. 

Two  striking  natural  curiosities  are  of  interest  to  all  visitors : 
The  Natural  Bridge  in  North  Adams,  and  the  Balanced  Rock  in  Lanes- 
l>oro.  Idle  Natural  Bridge  has  been  formed  liy  the  ;iction  of  the  waters 
of  Hudson's  brook,  which  have  wcn'n  a  channel  through  a  mass  of  solid 
marble,  leaving  tlie  \\alls  sixty  feet  high  in  some  places,  and  a  roof 
^^•hich  forms  the  l)ridge  over  the  chasm.  Hawthorne,  in  his  "  American 
Note  Book,"  likened  it  t(j  "  a  heart  that  has  been  rent  asunder  b\-  a 
torrent  of  nassion."     The  Balanced  Rock  is  a  relic  of  the  glacial  period, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  5 

brought  from  the  far  north  with  the  great  ice  mass  movement — an 
immense  1>onlcler  resting  njion  its  own  pi\'ot,  and  so  evenly  lialanced 
that  it  may  be  readily  moved  with  a  lever. 

The  minerals  of  Berkshire  have  been  objects  oi  constant  interest 
to  scientists,  and  of  great  pecuniar}^  valne  to  land  owners  and  mannfac- 
tnrers.  Professor  James  D.  Dana,  in  an  address  on  "  Berkshire  Geo- 
logy," delivered  in  1885  before  the  Berkshire  Historical  Society,  pro- 
nounced some  of  the  rocks  to  be  of  undoubted  archaean  ag"e — the  oldest 
known,  formed  nearest  to  the  time  when  the  earth  had  its  beginning' — 
and  identified  one  archaean  area  about  seven  miles  east  of  Pittsfield, 
in  a  railroad  cut  a  short  distance  north  of  the  Hinsdale  station. 

The  limestone  formation  is  a  portion  of  the  bed  which  extends  from 
Long  Island  Sound  through  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  into  Ver- 
mont. From  this  has  been  cjuarried  the  dark  blue  limestone  of  which 
the  Berkshire  .Vthenaeum  was  l)uilt.  Ahuijle  is  abundant,  generally 
white  or  lightly  clouded,  but  often  blue  or  grey.  The  white  marble  has 
long  been  in  great  demand.  The  principal  portion  of  the  court  house  in 
Pittsfield  is  built  of  white  marble  from  a  Sheffield  quarry,  and  the  base- 
ment walls  of  a  gre^"ish  marble  from  the  same  place,  which  also  pro- 
vided the  white  marl:)le  for  the  completion  of  the  National  Monument  in 
Washington  City.  The  marlde  for  the  city  hall  in  New  York  City  was 
from  West  Stockbridge :  that  for  the  capitol  extension  in  Washington 
City  and  for  the  city  hall  in.  Philadelphia  was  from  Lee;  and  that  for 
Girard  College,  in  Philadelph.ia.  was  from  Egremont.  A  cjuarry  in  Great 
Barrington  long  furnished  from  its  C|uartz  rock  a  superior  fire  stone 
which  was  used  for  many  years  for  hearths  for  iron  blast  furnaces. 
Extensive  beds  of  white  quartz  sand  are  located  in  Savoy.  Cheshire, 
Lanesboro  and  Washington.  This  sand  is  the  purest  and  best  in  the 
world   for  glass  making,   and   thousands  of    tons    of    it    are    annually 


6  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

shipped  to  leading  glass  works  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  For- 
merly glass  manufacturing  was  carried  on  in  the  county,  but  has  been 
abandoned  for  economic  reasons.  Iron  exists  in  considerable  quanti- 
ties, and  until  recent  3'ears  numerous  furnaces  were  operated.  Nearly 
all  have  now  been  closed,  iron  ore  being  produced  more  cheaply  else- 
where. Of  other  minerals,  kaolin,  a  species  of  clay  valuable  for  the 
manufacture  of  pottery,  is  found  in  New  Marlboro,  mica  and  slate  in 
West  Stockbridge,  and  soapstone  near  Waheonah  Falls. 

Our  mountains,   wood-crowned,   cheer  the  gazing  eye, — 
Whence  bursting  rills  in  constant  murmurs  flow* ; 

Health  vigorous  walks  beneath  th'  untainted  sky, 

And  peace  and  joy  our  heaven-bless'd  dwellings  know. 

Old  Greylock  at  the  north  uplifts  his  head. 
And  kindly  looks  on  Learning's  vale  below-; 

And  southward,  Washington,  of  bulk  outspread, 
O'erpeers  rich  plains,  wdiere  winding  rivers  flow. 

5|c  ^  ^  ;[j^  ^  ^  :jt  ^ 

Yon  Saddle-Mountain  in  its  azure  hue. 

All-mingled  with  the  thoughts  and  scenes  of  yore, 

Oh,  with  what  joy  it  rises  to  thy  view, 

Son  of  Pontcosuc !  at  thy  home  once  more ! 

So  every  son  of  Berkshire  turns  his  eye 

To  some  old  mountain-head,   of  much-loved   form, 

Majestic  rising  in  the  cloudless  sky. 

Or  turban'd  thick  with  drapery  of  the  storm. 

— Stanzas  selected  from  a  poem  delivered  of  the  Berkshire  Jubilee,  Aug. 
22,  1844,  by  Williann  Allen,  D.  D. 


P4 


o 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  9 

Greylock   Reservation. 

A  large  part  of  the  magnificent  mountain  region  of  Berkshire 
county  has  heen  set  apart  hy  the  state  as  the  Greylock  Reservation — 
one  of  three,  the  others  being  \A'achnsett  and  Ahumt  Tom.  The  Grey- 
lock Reser\'ation  had  its  beginning  in  the  effort  of  gentlemen  throughout 
the  county  who  were  interested  in.  preserving"  its  bountiful  forests  from 
wasteful  commercial  destruction.  North  Adams  and  Williamstown 
were  chiefiy  acti^•e  in  forming  what  was  known  as  the  Greylock  Park 
Association,  which  owned  four  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  summit. 
This  association  built  the  road  to  the  summit  from  the  north,  and  erected 
an  adecpiate  iron  tower.  The  tolls  charged  were  not  sufficient  to  main- 
tain the  road  and  develop  the  park.  The  mountain  had  been  usually 
ascended  from  the  north  and  the  west ;  there  was  no  road  to  Greylock 
from  IMttsfield,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  persons,  was  not  often 
visited   from  that  direction. 

Greylock  was  taken  under  state  charge  by  statute  in  1898,  and  was 
further  provided  for  by  successive  legislative  enactments  in  1900  and 
IQ04.  The  original  act  of  assembly  restricted  the  reservation  to  "  not 
to  exceed  ten  tliousand  acres."  l^rior  to  January  i,  1904,  the  reserva- 
tion commission  had  purchased  and  acquired  by  gift  about  5.483  acres. 
From  the  appropriation  of  1904  about  1,374  acres  are  to  be  added,  mak- 
ing the  total  area,  when  this  purpose  is  carried  out,  6,587  acres.  It  is 
hoped  to  increase  the  acreage  from  further  state  appropriations  until 
the  reservation  will  embrace  aliout  8.216  acres.  Hon.  Francis  W. 
Rockwell,  of  the  commission,  in  a  recently  published  letter,  states  that 
''  the  reservation  may  in  the  end  include  the  Imnch  of  hills  in  the  south- 
easterly part  of  Williamstown.  the  northeasterl}-  part  of  Xew  Ashford, 
the  southeasterly  part  of  Adams,  and  the  hills  along  the  westerly  line 


10  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  Adams,  extending  into  the  southwesterly  part  of  North  Adams." 
Adjoining-  the  northeasterly  part  of  the  reservation  as  now  acquired, 
the  city  of  North  Adams  owns  about  eight  hundred  acres,  used  for  a 
reservoir  and  water  supply,  which  will  be  kept  by  the  city  in  harmony 
with  the  general  purposes  of  the  state  reservation. 

The  county  of  Berkshire  annually  appropriates  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  '*  for  the  care  and  maintenance  of  the  reservation."  Individuals 
have  aided  the  commission  in  various  ways,  by  gifts  of  land  and  money, 
and  by  their  efforts  in  forwarding  the  purposes  of  that  body.  The  com- 
missioners serve  without  compensation.  They  are  appointed  for  six 
years,  one  each  two  years.  The  first  board  was  composed  of  John  Bas- 
com,  of  Williamstown;  Francis  W.  Rockwell,  of  Pittsfield ;  and  A.  B. 
Mole,  of  Adams.  Mr.  Mole  rendered  valuable  service  until  his  re- 
moval to  Montreal.  He  was  succeeded  by  G.  S.  Wilkinson,  of  North 
Adams.  On  his  death,  Mr.  W.  H.  Sperry,  of  the  same  citv,  received 
the  appointment  and  is  the  present  commissioner.  A  custodian  acting 
under  the  commission  occupies,  with  his  family,  the  little  house  on  the 
sunnmJt  of  Greylock.  His  duties  are  to  cut  out  trails  for  approaches 
to  the  mountain,  keep  the  roadways  to  and  over  it,  superintend  changes 
in  the  road  or  laying  out  spur-roads,  and  keep  a  lookout  for  forest  fires. 
His  family,  for  a  small  compensation,  serve  lunch  to^  visitors. 

Tlie  Greylock  Reservation  is  the  pride  of  the  Berkshires,  and  pre- 
sents an  unending  field  for  study.  It  is  noted  the  world  over  for  the 
variety  of  its  scenery,  and  Greylock  mountain,  its  principal  peak,  the 
highest  point  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  commands  a  view  of  widest 
scope  and  unsurpassable  beauty,  and  is  annually  visited  by  about  ten 
thousand  people.  These  visitors  begin  to  arrive  alx)ut  the  middle  of 
May,  and  are  numerous  until  early  in  October.  Some  drive  from  North 
Adams,  a  distance  of  nine  miles ;  others  from  Pittsfield,  sixteen  miles, 


Pi 


H 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  13 

the  drive  either  way  occupying  ahnnt  four  hours.  Many  enthusiastic 
pedestrians  walk  from  W'ilh'amstown.  from  Adams,  and  from  Cheshire 
Harl^or.  There  are  foot  trails  from  the  W'illiamstown  side  of  the  moun- 
tain thnjugh  "  the  H(t])i)er."  one  frcim  North  Adams  through  "  the 
Notch,"  a  distance  of  ahout  five  miles  in  either  case. 


Probably  the  first  white  men  in  the  region  now  known  as  Berk- 
shire county  were  Alajor  Talcott's  column  of  British  troops,  which  in 
1676  passed  over  a  route  lying  through  the  present  towns  of  West  Otis, 
Monterey  and  Great  Barrington.  Settlement  of  the  region  was  in  one 
Avay  delayed  and  in  another  hastened  by  the  uncertainties  concerning  the 
precise  boundary  line  between  Massachusetts  and  New  York.  It  is  as- 
serted that  the  first  to  come  were  from  New  York,  and  settled  at  ]Mt. 
\\^ashington  as  earh-  as  1693,  a  Hallenbeck  being  named  as  the  first 
settler,  and  the  next  a  Van  Valkenburg.  Local  annalists,  however,  do 
not  seem  to  recognize  these  as  bona  fide  settlers,  and  they  accord  that 
pre-eminence  to  Obadiah  Noble,  who  came  from  Westfield  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  Sheffield,  and  who  the  next  year  after  his  coming  brought 
a  sixteen-year-old  daughter.  Nolile  came  in  1725,  being  the  first  land 
occupant  in  Berkshire  under  a  Massachusetts  grant  co\ering  two  town- 
phii)s,  and  under  \\hich  was  occupied,  at  least  in  part,  the  territory  now 
known  as  Sheffield,  Great  Barrington,  Alford,  Kgremont  and  Stock- 
bridge.  These  lands  came  to  the  whites  with  a  fiawless  title,  directly 
acc|uired  from  the  Indians,  who  acce])ted  three  barrels  of  cider  and  thirtv 
quarts  of  rum  as  a  just  consideration.  The  next  step  in  the  settlement 
of  the  Berkshire  region  was  under  a  grant  of  land  for  four  townships 
along  the  route  betv^een  \\'estfiel(l  and  Sheffield.  The  main  i)urpose 
was  the  making  and  maintenance  of  a  ]):issable  road  Ijetween  the  Con- 


14  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

necticut  and  Honsatonic  rivers,  for  military  purposes,  affording  a  line 
for  troops  and  supplies  to  the  Canada  frontier.  What  was  called  "  the 
Great  Road  from  Boston  to  Alhany."  between  Blanford,  Hampden 
county,  and  Great  Barrington,  was  traversed  by  the  troops  under  Major 
General  Amherst,  marching  to  the  capture  of  Fort  Ticonderoga;  and 
upon  it,  from  Saratoga  to  Boston,  marched  the  captured  army  of  Bur- 
goyne,  who,  himself,  was  lodged  for  one  night  at  Tyringham. 

The  coming  of  Noble  was  the  precursor  of  an  immigration  which 
was  slow  for  some  years,  and  attended  with  a  degree  of  discomfort  almost 
inconceivable  at  the  present  day,  as  may  be  discerned  fromi  a  portion  of 
a  letter  written  by  one  of  the  later  immigrants,  and  quoted  by  Mr. 
Charles  J.  Palmer,  of  Lanesborough,  in  a  historical  paper :  "  Berkshire 
County,  and  what  it  has  done  for  the  World :" 


"  My  father  and  mother,  with  three  children,  started  for  Berkshire 
in  a  cart  containing  the  provision  for  the  journey,  and  all  the  house- 
hold goods,  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen.  We  traveled  from  five  tO'  eight 
miles  a  day,  much  of  the  way  through  a  wilderness  where  roads  had  to 
be  cut  and  bridges  made.  After  a  journey  of  a  month's  time  we 
reached  our  new  home,  a  log  hut.  Our  cabin  was  very  small,  and  we 
had  to  partition  off  nearly  half  of  it  for  a  fold  for  our  sheep  to  keep 
them  from  the  wolves,  whose  nightly  howling  echoed  among  the  sur- 
rounding mountains.  After  three  years  my  father  conceived  the  idea 
cf  building"  a  frame  house,  but  was  cautioned  by  the  neigilibors  against 
so  wild  a  project." 


The  general  appearance  of  the  county  at  the  time  of  its  settlement 
we  can  not  so  well  describe  as  has  been  done  by  the  gifted  pen  of  Mr. 
J.  E.   A.   Smith,  the  historian  of  Pittsfield : 


"If  from  some  neighboring  mountain  top,  the  pioneer,  as  he  ap- 
proached, gained  a  view  of  the  amphitheatre  which  lay  below,  the  scene 
was  one  to  enchant  even  the  most  prosaic  heart.     All  the  minor  irreg- 


cq 


'     K 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  17 

ularities,  all  the  sharper  angles,  were  softened  and  rounded  l>y  an  enamel 
of  forest,  in  which  were  embossed  the  rolling"  outlines  of  hill  and  valley. 
Idle  landscape  stretching  through  a  range  of  fifty  miles  presented,  until 
all  other  hues  were  lost  in  the  blue  of  distance,  the  unln^oken  green  of 
waving-  tree  tops — save  where  through  a  few  chance  opening's,  the 
Housatonic  flashed  back  the  simlight.  or  some  shimmering  glimpse  of 
lakelet  revealed  its  lonely  surface  upon  which,  perhajis,  still  lingered  the 
graceful  bark  of  a  wandering  Mohegan.  At  inter\als,  in  the  sea  of 
green,  a  spot  of  darker  verdure,  where  the  boughs  stirred  more  stiffly 
to  the  breeze,  betrayed  the  lurking  place  of  the  gloomy  and  freciuent 
hemlock  swamps.  Around  the  southern  borders  of  Lake  Shoonkeek- 
Moonkeek,  and  on  some  of  the  Taconic  hills,  glowed  those  noble  groves 
of  pine,  whose  fame,  attended  by  a  few  not  unworthy  relics,  remains  to 
this  day.  As  he  descended  the  mountain  side  by  Unkamet's  road,  or 
some  other  rude  ]>ath,  it  would  have  been  strange  had  not  his  ear  been 
greeted  by  the  growl  of  a  bear,  the  howl  of  the  wclf,  or  the  cries  of 
the  wildcat  and  the  Canadian  lynx ;  for  all  then  had  their  dens  among  the 
tumbled  rocks  of  the  neighboring  ravines.  As  he  ])roceeded,  he  might 
have  caught  a  vanishing  glimpse  of  a  fox's  brush,  or  the  bristling  quills 
of  a  i)orcupine.  He  was  pretty  sure  to  startle  a  brace  of  rabbits,  and 
send  a  wood-chuck  burrowing  to  his  hole ;  while  scjuirrels — red,  black, 
grey,  and  striped — gambolled  by  scores  up  and  down  the  shaggy  sides 
of  the  great  trees.  The  skunk  made  his  presence  known,  and  perhaps 
a  raccoon,  on  some  fallen  mossy  trunk,  challenged  a  shot  from  the  ever- 
ready  firelock.  But  that,  the  marksman  doubtless  reserved  for  the 
moose  ^vhich  might  ipresently  peer  at  him  from  the  recesses  of  the  for- 
est, the  deer  that  was  almost  sure  to  dash  across  his  path,  or  the  wild 
turkey  stalking  among'  the  ferns,  .\bove  him  the  eagle  and  the  hawk 
swept  in  dizzy  circles.  From  the  dank  borders  of  the  lake  the  shrill 
scream  of  the  loon  and  the  harsh  note  of  the  heron  saluted  him.  The 
1)lack  duck  swung  on  the  still  waters,  and  possibl}-  a  sea  P'ull.  which 
had  wandered  inland  with  the  mist  of  the  sea,  dijiped  its  white  wing 
along  their  surface.  All  the  feathered  hrjst,  which  with  bright  hues  or 
melodious  song  makes  glad  New  England  woods,  fluttered  among  the 
o\'erhanp"ino'  branches." 


Iiarlv  life  :ind.  customs  in  Berkshire  were  \i\idly  described  b}-  Mr. 
Alexander  Hyde  in  his  historical  paper  on  that  subject,  published  in 
"  Collections  of  the  Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  Society,"  in 
1899: 


18  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

"  In  the  \-alley  of  tlie  Housatonic  and  Hoosac  the  forest  must  be 
jeveled  and  burned  before  a  hill  of  beans  could  be  raised.  The  first  thing 
to  be  done  was  to  build  a  hut  that  might  serve  as  a  protection  from 
the  weather  and  the  Avoh'es.  This  was  quite  uniformly  constructed  of 
logs,  notched  together  at  the  ends,  with  the  interstices  plastered  with 
mud.  The  chimney  was  rudely  built  up  of  stones,  which  were  also 
stuck  together  with  mud.  and  the  roof  was  formed  of  hemlock  boughs. 
Sometimes  the  hut  was  built  against  some  huge  boulder,  or  some  steep 
hill,  which  served  as  a  back  to  both  shanty  and  chimney,  and  one  of 
the  early  settlers  boasted  a  good  deal  of  this  style  of  architecture,  claim- 
ing that  it  was  very  convenient,  as  he  could  feed  his  fire  from  the  chim- 
ney top,  and  it  saved  time  and  labor  in  cutting  and  splitting  the  wood. 
No  patent,  however,  was  taken  out  for  the  invention,  and  the  style  be- 
came obsolete  when  saw  mills  and  brick  kilns  were  introduced.  These 
log  houses  were  pretty  rough  structures,  as  the  axe  and  spade  were  the 
only  implements  employed  in  their  construction.  No  wonder  that  a 
visitor  from  Cape  Cod,  as  he  came  in  sight  of  one  of  these  houses,  re- 
marked to  the  guide,  '  See,  there  is  a  hog-pen  with  a  chimney  to  it.' 
'  Be  quiet,'  was  the  reply,  '  that  is  where  your  uncle  lives.'  " 


The  interior  arrangements  and  furnishings  were  in  keeping  with 
the  exterior.  There  were  no  floors,  for  there  were  no  boards,  neither 
were  there  chairs  or  tables.  The  bedstead  posts  were  crotched  sticks 
dri\-en  into  the  ground,  and  in  the  crotches  were  placed  two  stout  sa]> 
lings,  one  at  the  head  and  the  other  at  the  foot,  and  on  these  were  put 
lengthwise  some  slight  elastic  poles,  serving  the  purpose  of  slats.  Pine 
or  hemlock  boughs  served  for  a  mattress.  The  cooking  utensils  were 
a  skillet  and  a  spider,  and  the  closet  possibly  contained  a  pewter  cup  and 
platter,  and  perhaps  a  wooden  trencher.  Clean  birch  bark  frequently 
supplied  the  place  of  plates.  The  food  was  mostly  fish  and  game,  both 
of  which  were  almndant. 

The  local  nomenclature  of  Beikshire  is  interestingly  significant, 
as  pointing  c;ut  the  origin  of  the  people  who  came  to  settle  it.  The 
subject  was  made  the  theme  of  an  interesting  paper  by  Charles  J.  Palm- 


m 

&^'~,:^^^*^^ 


Flora's  Glen. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  21 

er,  and  this  lia?  been  largely  drawn  up^n  for  the  information  herein 
contained.  Tyringham  deri\-es  its  name  from  the  Tyringham  in  Eng- 
land, which  was  connected  with,  the  family  of  (iovernor  Bernard.  Egre- 
mont  was  so  called  for  Charles  \\'indham.  Earl  of  Egremont,  who  was 
secretar}'  of  state  in  England  when  the  town  was  incorporated.  Shef- 
field was  named  for  Sir  Edmund  Sheffield,  second  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
grandson  of  James  II.  Becket  took  its  name  from  the  Ijirthplace  of 
Governor  Bernard,  in  Berkshire,  England.  Alarlljorough  was  named 
after  the  town  of  the  same  name  in  England.  Great  Barrington  prolj- 
ably  was  named  after  Lord  Barrington,  of  England,  then  deceased,  who 
during  his  life  had  manifested  an  especial  interest  in  the  New  England 
colonies.  The  di^•isional  line  between  IMassachusetts  and  Rhode  Island 
was  unsettled  and  in  controversy ;  the  town  of  Barrington,  now  in 
Rhode  Island,  lav  near  the  disputed  line,  and,  as  it  was  uncertain 
whether  a  final  adjustment  would  leave  it  in  Massachusetts  or  Rhode 
Island,  to  obxdate  the  possible  inconvenience  of  having  two  towns  of 
the  same  name  in  tlie  province,  it  was  determined  to  call  the  new  town 
Great  Barrington.  Stockbridge  appears  to  have  lieen  named  for  the 
English  town  of  the  same  name.  Pittsfield  was  named  after  \\'i!liam 
Pitt,  then  prime  minister  of  England.  W^indsor  was  named  after 
Windsor.  Connecticut,  which  was  named  for  the  English  A\'indsor,  in 
Berkshire.  Lenox  and  Richmond  were  originally  one  town,  named 
after  diaries  Lenox.  Duke  of  Richmond,  and  when  the  town  was 
divided  one  town  took  his  name,  and  the  other  that  which  belonged  to 
his  distingTiishing  title.  Lanesborough  was  so  named  for  the  Countess 
of  Lanesborough.  of  Ireland,  who  was  a  court  favorite,  and  a  friend  of 
the  governor  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  of  interest  to  note  that  the  Lane 
family  of  Ireland  were  ardent  friends  of  the  American  cause,  and  sought 
to  create  a  rebellion  in  Ireland  at  the  time  of  the  American  revolution. 


22  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

New  Framingham,  the  former  name  of  Lanesboro,  was  named  from  the 
Framingham  in  Middlesex  county,  whence  came  the  greater  part  of 
the  early  settlers,  (jneensliorongh,  the  original  name  of  West  Stock- 
bridge,  was  gi^•en  it  in  honor  of  the  queen  of  George  III,  but  was 
dropped  at  the  beginning  of  the  revolution.  The  other  towns  in  the 
county  are  named  in  greater  part  for  revolutionai-y  worthies,  or  after 
individuals  who  located  manufacturing  industries.  Few  Indian  names 
are  preserved. 

On  account  of  its  position  on  the  line  of  communication  between 
New  England  and  Canada,  Berkshire  was  situated  very  much  as  were 
the  ''  Border  States  "  of  Virginia.  Kentucky  and  Missouri  during  the 
Civil  war.  The  Indians,  entirely  familiar  with  the  region,  and  in- 
spired by  the  rewards  offered  by  the  French  f(3r  American  scalps,  kept 
the  settlers  in  constant  dread.  The  relics  of  various  of  the  old  forts 
and  stockades,  and  the  sites  of  others  which  have  entirely  disappeared, 
are  elocjuent  reminders  of  the  courage  and  endurance  of  the  earlv  set- 
tlers of  those  times — of  their  privations,  sufferings  and  dangers,  and 
even  of  cruel  deaths  at  the  hands  of  a  savage  foe.  The  preservation  and 
identification  of  these  historic  sites  and  the  perpetuation  of  historical 
records  have  been  effected  primarily  through  the  instrumentality  of 
various  patriotic  societies,  who  by  their  works  have  proven  themselves 
real  guardians  of  the  fame  of  their  forbears — the  Berkshire  Chapter  of 
the  Massachusetts  Society,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution;  the 
Berkshire  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution;  the  Berk- 
shire County  Historical  and  Scientific  Society;  the  Fort  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  etc.  Nor  must  be  omitted  from  this  mention  refer- 
ence to  the  arduous  labors  of  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  various 
of  these  bodies,  the  late  lamented  Rollin  Hillyer  Cooke.  Among  other 
notable  efforts,   he  was  primarily   instrumental  in  locating  the  sites  of 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  23 

many  of  the  forts  of  the  col(3nial  and  revolutionary  periods,  and  was 
among-  the  first  to  nrg-e  that  they  should  be  suitably  marked.  He  also 
sought  out  and  was  instrumental  in  securing  a  marker  for  the  site  of 
the  ancient  Indian  fort  in  Xew  Ashford,  from  which  the  town  took  its 
name  (Ashfort)  ;  and  he  also  located  the  last  resting  places  of  soldiers 
of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Fort  Massachusetts,  in  North  Adams,  figures  mosi  prouiinently 
among  the  forts  in  Berkshire  county  during  the  French  and  Indian 
wars.  Ihis  was  attacked  by  a  French  and  Indian  force  in  1746,  and 
was  compelled  to  surrender  owing  to  the  enfeebled  condition  of  the 
garrison  through  sickness,  and  want  of  ammunition.  The  prisoners 
were  taken  to  Canada,  many  dying  on  the  journey.  Those  who  sur- 
vived were  liumanely  treated,  and  subsequently  liberated.  The  fort, 
which  was  destroyed,  was  afterward  rebuilt.  Others  of  the  old  de- 
fenses were  the  forts  at  Pittsfield — Fort  Anson,  near  the  Bea\-er  street 
crossing  of  the  east  branch  of  the  Housatonic  river:  Fort  Fairfield,  on 
the  Holmes  road,  between  the  Housatonic  river  and  the  Sam])son  resi- 
dence; and  Fort  Ashley,  southwest  of  Oncta  lake,  on  the  hill  after- 
ward occupied  by  the  Daniels  residence. 

Against  the  pitiful  side  of  the  story  of  these  trying  davs  is  set  the 
narrative  of  the  Rev.  John  Sergeant's  missionarv  work  among"  the 
Stockbridge  Indians — a  story  at  once  inspiring  and  pathetic.  His,  the 
first  attenipt  to  civilize  and  christianize  the  American  red  man,  was  made 
in  face  of  all  manner  of  discouragement  and  o]>position,  and  intensely 
pleasing-  is  the  recollection  of  the  strong  impression  for  giood  which 
he  left  upon  those  he  came  to  enlighten,  h^jr  the  Stockbridge  Indians 
proved  a  tower  of  defense  to  New  Fngland,  and  so  liighly  did  \\'ash- 
ington   esteem    their   services   durine  the   Revolution   that,   at   the  close 


24 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


of  the  struggle,  in  l::eh:ilf  of  the  infant  nation  and  for  himself,  he  puh- 
liclv  hore  witness  to  his  appreciation  and  gratitude. 

John  Sergeant  undert()o>k  his  mission  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Church  of  England  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and  the 
work  enlisted  a  widesjiread  interest  among  chiu'chmen  and  hunrmita- 
rians  in  th.e  Ahither  Countr}-.      The   Re\-.    Isaac   Hollis,   of  London    (a 

nephew  of  Hollis,  the  dis- 
tinguished l^enefactor  of 
Har\-ard  College),  of- 
fered to  support  twent}'  of 
the  Stockbridge  Indians 
at  an  annual  charge  of 
five  hundred  pounds.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Watts  sent  to 
Sergeant  se\'enty  pounds, 
collected  from  among-  his 
friends,  and  also  a  copy  of 
his  treatise  on  "  The  Im- 
provement of  the  Mind," 
a  little  volume  which  is  a 
cherished  memorial 
among  the  descendants 
of  Sergeant  to  the  pres- 
ent day.  Among  other  su|)porters  of  Sergeant  were  the  Prince 
of  AA^ales,  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  the  Duke  of  Dorset,  Lord  Cower, 
and  others.  iM'ancis  Ayscough,  clerk  of  the  closet  and  first  chaplain  to 
the  Prince  of  Wales,  sent  to  Sergeant  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in 
two  large  folio  \ (flumes,  embellished  with  engravings,  in  which  was 
inscribed  :     "  Presented  by  Dr.  Ayscough  to  Rev.  John  Sergeant,  mis- 


Stockbridge  iMonument. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  25 

sionary  to  the  Stockliridge  Tndi:ins,  in  the  vast  wilderness  called  Xew 
England."' 

Sergeant  found  greater  obstacles  to  contend  against  than  the  pa- 
ganism of  the  Indians,  in  the  lawlessness  and  imnioralitv  of  many  of 
the  white  settlers.  Rum  was  a  principal  agency  of  the  white  traders, 
but  happily  the  influence  of  the  missi(,nary  was  so  commanding  and  the 
good  sense  and  moral  ])rinci]ile  of  many  of  the  red  men  so  strong  that 
a  barrier  was  reared  against  this  demoralizing  traflic.  A  year  after 
Sergeant  had  begun  his  labors,  the  Indians  formally  agreed  "  to  have 
no  trading  in  rum."'  The  General  Court  further  protected  them  by 
the  enactment  of  a  law  (antedating  the  Maine  liquor  law  by  more  than 
a  century)  making  the  sale  of  strong  drink  to  an  Indian  a  criminal  of- 
fense. The  traders  endeavored  to  influence  the  Indians  against  this 
policy  by  the  same  arguments  used  in  opposition  to  present-day  prohibi- 
tion, urging  that  the  inhi1)ition  was  depri\'ation  ci  their  personal  lilierty 
rights;  but  the  influence  of  their  pastor  was  sufficiently  great  to  con- 
vince them  that  the  law  was  enacted  for  their  welfare.  A  curious  side- 
!ight  ui-'on  this  matter  appears  in  the  deplorable  fact  that  the  prohibition 
of  liquor  applied  to  the  In.dians  only,  and  the  records  of  a  neighboring 
town  show  that,  at  the  raising-  of  the  frame  of  a  church,  among  other 
pro\'isions  made,  it  was  ^•oted  to  procure  three  l)arrels  of  beer  and 
twenty  gallons  of  rum. 

Sergeant,  in  his  work  among  the  Indians,  anticipated  one  of  the 
foremost  sociological  mo\-ements  of  the  present  day,  the  principle  of 
the  Uni\'ersity  Settlement  and  the  establishment  of  a  school  such  as 
that  at  Hampton  Court,  where  the  Indians  should  be  t.aught  not  only 
from  l)Ooks,  but  along  jiractical  lines,  farming,  tiie  ordinar_\-  industrial 
avocations,  liousekeeping  and  domestic  cconomw  At  the  same  time, 
Sergeant  anticipated  the  home  missionary  effort  of  the  present  age,  by 


26  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

training-  native  preachers  to  carry  the  Gospel  to  distant  tribes.  Among 
his  scholars  were  some  \vho,  inspired  by  him,  studied  later  at  Harvard 
and  Dartmcjuth,  and  proved  shining  lights  in  their  day  and  generation. 
Of  this  early  day  there  is  pleasant  reminiscence  in  a  letter  to  the 
"  Boston  Post  Boy  "  of  September  3.  1739,  written  from  Stockbridge, 
and  which  contains  the  following: 


"There  is  a  church  gathering  and  fourteen  Indian  communicants; 
the  number  of  the  baptiz'd  is  near  sixty.  While  I  was  at  Stockbridge, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Sargeant  (the  minister  there)  was  married  to  Mrs.  Abigail 
Williams,  a  virtuous  and  agreeable  young  gentlewoman,  daughter  of 
Ephraim  Williams,  Esq.  There  were  ninety  Indians  present  at  the 
marriage,  who  behaved  with  great  gravity  while  the  prayers  were  beingt 
made,  yea,  during  the  whole  ceremony,  and  seem'd  exceedingly  well 
pleased  that  their  minister  was  married;  they  show  him  great  respect, 
etc.  And  I  hope  he  may  prove  yet  a  great  blessing  among  them,  and  be 
instrumental  of  turning  many  of  them  from  darkness  to  light." 


On  the  death  of  Jolin  Sergeant,  he  was  succeeded  by  Jonathan 
Edwards,  even  then  a  scholar  of  unusual  ability,  and  who  in  his  work 
as  teacher  among  the  mingled  whites  and  Indians  had  an  able  assistant 
in  his  wife,  Sarah  Pierrepont  Edwards.  After  his  death  the  schools 
for  Indians,  male  and  female,  were  continued  under  succeeding  teachers, 
the  last  being  John  Sergeant,  son  of  the  missionary.  While  he  was 
their  pastor  the  Stockbridge  Indians,  with  him  as  their  head,  removed 
to  the  Oneida  country,  in  central  New  York,  and  with  their  removal 
ends  the  story  of  their  relation  to  Berkshire  county. 

Originally  a  part  of  the  old  county  of  Hampshire,  that  of  Berk- 
shire was  given  its  identity  under  its  present  name  in  1761,  by  action 
of  the  General  Court  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  the  first 
year  of  the   reign  of  George   III.     This  was  fifteen  years  before  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  27 

colonies  declared  their  independence,  and  a  little  more  than  a  half  cen- 
tury before  the  neighboring  counties  of  Hampshire  and  Franklin  were 
created.  Courts  were  first  held  at  Great  Barrington  and  Pittsfield  al- 
ternately. Lenox  was  made  the  shire  town  in  1787,  and  remained 
such  until  1868,  when  Pittsfield  became  the  county  seat,  which  it  has 
since  been  to  the  present  time. 

From  the  outset  tlie  people  of  Berkshire  were  foremost  in  all  move- 
ments looking  toward  independence,  and  which  were  destined  to  re- 
sult in  tlie  l)irth  of  a  new  nation.  They  were  a  conglomerate  of  diverse 
character,  but  became  substantially  one  in  spirit.  Many  came  from 
Connecticut,  others  from  Boston.  There  were  ulir^  Puritans,  Ana- 
baptists and  Free-thinkers.  There  were  hardy  i>ioneers  and  Indian  fight- 
es,  sturdily  independent  and  aggressive,  prepared  to  lead  in  opposition 
to  whatever  seemed  to  threaten  abridg'ement  of  the  natural  liberties  of 
the  individual  man.  There  were,  also,  in  unusually  large  proportion 
for  a  new  community,  the  highly  educated,  cultured,  even  aristocratic. 
Both  were  ecjually  necessary  for  the  day  of  great  events  which  was 
already  dawn.ing — the  former  to  take  upon  themselves  a  foremost  part 
in  the  actual  revolutionary  struggle,  though  the  other  class  were  not 
wanting  here;  the  latter  to  exert  a  constructive  influence  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  civil  institutions  after  that  struggle  should  have  ended.  As 
elsewhere  in  all  the  world's  history  during  the  progress  of  civilization 
and  of  man's  advancement,  neither  class  comprehended  the  importance 
of  its  own  acts  or  their  momentous  effect  upon  the  future  of  the  country 
and  of  the  world. 

To  the  people  of  Berkshire  county  belongs  the  honor  of  being 
among  the  first  (if  they  were  not,  as  is  proba1)le,  the  very  first)  in  the 
entire  land  to  take  pronounced  action  ag'ainst  British  authority.  At 
Sheffield,  on  January  12,  1773  (more  than  two  years  before  the  famous 


28  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

"  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence  "  proclaimed  at  Mecklen- 
burg". North  Carolina.  ]\Iay  20,  1775),  the  people  assembled  to  con- 
sider "  The  grievances  which  the  Americans  in  general  and  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  province  in  particular  labor  under."  The  report  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  \'oice  the  sentiments  of  the  people,  v/ie\ved 
"with  deepest  sorrow  the  design  of  Great  Britain  (which  is  too  appar- 
ent to  everv  virtuous  lover  of  his  country)  gradually  to  deprive  us  of 
in\aluable  rights  and  privileges  which  were  transmitted  to  us  by  our 
worthy  and  independent  ancestors;"  and  professed  "the  most  ami- 
cable regard  and  attachment  to  our  most  precious  sovereign  and  protest- 
ant  succession  as  by  law  established;"  but  "with  that  deference  and  re- 
spect due  to  the  country  on  which  we  are  and  always  hope  to  be  de- 
pendent,  enter  upon  the  following  resolves." 

The  first  two  of  the  resolutions  are  remarkable  as  being  almost 
identical  in  language  to  a  portion  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
of  July  the  Fourth,   1776,  at  Philadelphia: 


"  Resolved,  that  ]\Iankind  in  a  State  of  Nature  are  equal,  free  and 
independent  of  each  other,  and  have  a  right  to  the  undisturbed  Enjoy- 
ment of  their  lives,  their  Liberty  and  Property. 

"  Resoked,  that  the  great  end  of  Political  Society  is  to  secure  in 
a  more  effectual  manner  those  rights  and  privileges  wherewith  God  and 
Nature  have  made  us  free." 


These  resolutions  (which  recited  every  grievance  complained  of 
then  or  thereafter  in  any  of  the  Colonies)  were  read  twice  in  town  meet- 
ing, and  unanimously  adopted.  They  were  penned  by  the  celebrated 
Theodore  Sedgwick.  He  was  already  prominent  in  national  councils, 
and  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  Stockbridge  proclamation  had  a  close 
relationship  to  the  document  which  was  subsequently  adopted  at  Phila- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  29 

(lelphia,   through   iiis   association   with   the   leaders   of  the  Congress   of 
1776. 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  note  that,  when  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  of  1776,  penned  hy  Thomas  Jefferson,  was  read 
in  a  church  at  Sheffield,  a  poor  slave  girl  hearing  it,  said  :  "  It  stands 
to  reason  that  I  am  free."  She  sought  ]\Ir.  (afterwards  Judge)  Sedg- 
wick, then  a  young  lawyer,  who  brought  suit  to  establish  her  freedom, 
which  the  court  adjudged  upon  his  plea.  These  facts  were  narrated  in 
an  address  at  the  Edwards  family  meeting  in  Stockbridge  in  Septem- 
ber, 1870,  by  Hon.  David  Dudley  Field,  who  said  this  was  "  the  first 
instance  where  that  famous  Declaration  was  held  to  mean  what  it  said." 

From  the  time  of  the  Sheffield  meeting  of  1773  there  was  no  halt- 
ing. Incidentall}-  it  may  be  mentioned  that  at  the  town  meeting-  on 
February  25,  1775,  "  the  present  inhuman  practice  of  enslaving  our  fel- 
low creatures,  the  natives  of  Africa."  was  called  up,  but  action  was  de- 
ferred, "  the  subject  being  under  the  consideration  of  the  General 
Court."  In  the  same  }ear,  when  British  aggression  had  become  so  pro- 
nounced as  to  threaten  the  virtual  reduction  of  Massachusetts  to  the 
condition  of  a  conquererl  province,  when,  to  quote  "  The  Boston 
Gazette,"  "  The  whole  continent  seemed  inspired  by  one  soul,  and  that 
a  rigorous  and  determined  one,"  Berkshire  was  first  to  hold  a  county 
convention,  at  Stockbridge,  ami  which  body  adopted  a  solemn  league 
and  covenant  "  that  we  will  not  import,  purchase  or  consume,  or  suf- 
fer any  person  for.  by,  or  under  us.  to  import,  purchase,  or  consume,  in 
any  manner  whatever,  any  goods,  wares,  or  manufactures,  which  shall 
arrive  in  Great  Britain,  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  October  next 
*  "^  *  until  our  charter  and  constitutional  rights  shall  be  re- 
stored."' Shortly  afterward  a  libert}-  pole  in  Sheffield  was  cut  down, 
and,  the  two  doers  cf  the  deed  being  identified,  one  was  compelled  to 


30  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

pass  before  a  long  line  of  the  inhabitants,  beg-ging"  pardon  of  each  one; 
^v]^!le  the  other  w-as  tarred  and  feathered,  and  in  such  dire  pbght  was 
forced  to  knc^dv  at  the  door  of  every  house  in  the  town  and  make  bumble 
apology.  As  another  instance  of  the  spirit  of  the  times  may  be  noted 
the  fact  that,  some  time  liefore  tbe  Declaration  of  Independence,  tbe 
people  of  Pittsfield  by  vote  ordered  the  erasure  of  the  name  of  King 
George  from  all  official  insignia,  and,  as  if  to  sbow  their  contempt  for 
that  sovereign,  coupled  witb  this  x-ote  a  number  of  miscellaneous  pro- 
visions, one  being  against  hogs  running  at  large. 

This  determined  spirit  of  independence  was  further  made  mani- 
fest even  in  the  relations  of  the  county  to  the  provincial  authority. 
For  a  considerable  period  Berkshire  was  practicalK-  administered  as  an 
independent  principalitv.  its  inhabitants  holding  that,  1))-  the  act  of 
revolution,  each  political  entity  had  relapsed  to  entire  dependence  upon 
its  own  inherent  powers,  that  the  old  provincial  charter  had  been 
abrogated,  and  that  they  would  recognize  no  courts  or  authority  origin- 
ating in  Boston,  but  would  rest  upon  their  own  self-government  until 
a  state  convention  should  be  held  and  a  lawful  government  organized 
de  novo.  To  effect  the  latter  end  the  people  of  Berkshire  took  primary 
action,  and  it  is  a  well  estalilisbed  fact  that  Jonathan  Smith,  of  Lanes- 
boro,  contributed  more  than  all  others  to  the  ratification  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  l)y  the  people  of  Massachusetts  and  the  erection  of  a  stable 
government.  Concerning  this  important  event  the  commissioners 
charged  with  the  publication  of  the  jMassachusetts  Colonial  Records 
wM-ote  recently  to  ]\Ir.  Charles  T.  Palmer,  of  Pittsfield :  "  While  all  our 
people  seem  to  ha\'e  shown  a  genius  for  code-making  and  a  wonderful 
apprehension  of  the  j)hilosophv  of  Republican  grjvernment,  the  honor  of 
being  first  and  most  zealous  in  insisting  upon  a  new  constitution,  prop- 
erlv  and  luwfullv  formed,  undoubtedlv  belongs  to  the  little  communitv 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  31 

scattered  along-  the  extreme  western  liorder  of  the  province  along  the 
beautiful  and  fertile  valleys  of  the  Housatonic.  And  yet  how  little 
])roniinence  is  given  to  this  fact  in  our  books  of  history.  It  is  certainly 
very  modest  in  the  intelligent  people  of  Berkshire  not  to  have  claimed 
more  than  they  have  for  the  achievements  of  their  forefathers."  Al- 
though not  immediately  related  to  this  subject,  it  is  interesting"  to  note 
that  it  was  owing  to  the  earnest  and  determined  effc^rt  of  men  of  Pitts- 
tield  that  Massachusetts  finall}-  removed  the  remaining  relics  of  the 
most  objectionable  Puritan  legislation,  and  gave  io  all  religious  bodies 
absolute  inde]3endence.  and  equality  in  the  eyes  of  the  law. 

Berkshire  performed  its  full  share  during  the  Revolutionarv  war. 
Its  minute-men  marched  to  Boston  on  recei\'ip.g"  the  Lexington  alarm. 
Three  of  its  regiments  fought  in  the  liattle  (f  Bennington,  August  i6, 
1777.  With  one  of  these  was  Pittsfield's  famous  "Fighting  Parson 
Allen.''  When  the  news  of  the  approaching  conflict  came  to  the  vil- 
lage, Parson  Allen  assembled  his  congregation  in  the  meeting  iiouse  and, 
musket  in  hand,  called  upon  his  people  to  accompany  him  to  th^i  field. 
It  is  claimed  for  him  that  lie  fired  the  first  shot  at  Bennington  on  the 
American  side.  Berkshire  men  were  present  in  the  campaign  culmina- 
ting in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  and  his  army  at  Saratoga. 

During  the  war  between  the  I'nited  States  and  Great  Britain, 
1812-1814,  Pittsfield  v.as  the  rendezvous  for  the  Berkshire  county  vol- 
u.nteers.  There  also  were  congregated  the  British  soldiers  captured 
during  the  v.ar.  The  ground  occupied  by  the  cantonment  then  belonged 
to  the  United  Stales,  and  comi^-ised,  among  other  territory,  the  p^round 
since  occupied  by  the  Maplewood  Young  Ladies'  Institute,  St.  Joseph's 
(Roman   Catholic)    Church,   and  buildings  pertaining  thereto. 

At  the  outlireak  of  the  Civil  war,  Berkshire  county  responded  with 
cheerful  alacrity,  as  it  did  to  all  subsequent  calls,  and,  wdien  the  final 


32 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


accounting  was  made,  it  was 
shown  that  it  sent  to  the 
front  nearly  six  thousand 
men — nearly  four  hundred 
( three  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight)  more  than  its  aggre- 
gated quota.  The  county 
was  largely  represented  in 
the  Eighth  Massachusetts 
Regiment  under  President 
Lincoln's  first  call  for  sev- 
enty-five thousand  men.  The 
Forty-ninth  Regiment  was 
almost  entirely  made  up  in 
the  county,  which  also  con- 
trihuted  largely  to  the  ranks 
of  the  Tenth,  Twenty-first, 
Thirty-first,  Thirty-fourth 
and  Thirty-seventh  Regi- 
ments, and  to  many  others 
in  smaller  numbers. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful 

and       impressive       soldiers' 

mcniuments    in    the    United 

States    is    that    in    the*  City 

Park     in      Pittsfield.        The 

striking  figure  of  the  colur-sergeant,  in  bronze,  was  modeled  by  the  noted 

sculptor,   Launt  Thompson.      Among  the  inscriptions  upon  the  granite 

column,  which  are  peculiar!}-  touching  and  expressive,  are  the  following: 


Soldiers"    Monument. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  33 

"  For  the  Dead,  a  Tribute." 

"  For  the  Living,  a  Memory." 

"  For  Posterity,  an  Emblem  of  Loyalty  to  the  Flag  of  their  country." 

It  was  upon  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  this  monument,  on 
September  24,  1872,  that  George  William  Curtis  pronounced  one  of 
his  most  eloquent  orations,  and  his  fervent  praise  is  equally  applicable 
to  the  Soldier  of  the  Union,  from  whatever  town  or  whatever  state: 

"  Let  us  be  grateful  for  Greece  two  thousand  years  ago,  and  thank 
God  that  we  live  in  America  today !  The  war  scattered  the  glamour 
of  the  past  and  showed  us  that  we,  too,  live  among  great  virtues,  great 
characters  and  greaf  men.  Through  these  streets  the  culture  of  Greece, 
the  heroism  of  Rome,  the  patriotism  of  our  own  revolution,  have 
marched  before  your  eyes.  These  elms,  like  the  trees  of  Ardennes,  have 
shed  their  tears  in  dew  drops  over  the  unreturning  brave.  The  ground 
upon  which  we  stand  is  consecrated  by  the  tread  of  feet  gladly  goingi 
to  the  noblest  sacrifice.  And  from  these  throbbing  drums  and  wail- 
ing horns,  still  peals  the  music  to  which  they  marched  away.  They 
were  your  sons,  Pittsfield  and  green  Berkshire !  They  were  your  com- 
rades, Massachusetts  soldiers !  They  were  the  darlings  of  your  homes, 
tender  hearts  that  hear  me !  And  here  in  this  fair  figure  of  heroic  youth, 
they  stand  as  }'ou  will  alwa\'S  recall  them — the  bloom  of  immortal 
youth  upon  their  cheeks;  the  divine  hope  of  youth  in  their  hearts;  the 
perpetual  inspiration  of  youth  to  ever}'-  beholder.  For  this  is  the  Ameri- 
can soldier  of  the  Union ;  the  messenger  of  liberty  to  the  captive,  and  of 
peace  to  the  nation.  This  is  the  perpetual  but  silent  preacher  of  the 
gospel  of  liberty  and  justice  as  the  only  sure  foundation  of  states. 
'  Beautiful  on  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  glad  tid- 
ings, that  publisheth  peace,  that  said  untO'  Zion,  thy  God  reigiieth!  '  " 

In  the  same  park  with  "  the  Color  Sergeant  "  is  a  lofty  flagstaff 
erected  by  the  city  at  the  opening  of  the  Spanish-American  war,  from 
which  floats,  on  occasion,  a  handsome  national  flag,  the  gift  of  the 
children  of  the  public  schools. 

How  quickly  the  people  of  the  revolutionary  period  turned  to  the 
arts  of  peace  as  soon  as  war  was  over,  is  discernible  in  the  fact  that 


34  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

education  l^ecame  r)ne  of  their  chief  est  concerns.  Wilhams  College, 
without  question  the  most  im]>ortant  institution  in  the  Berkshires,  from 
humhle  and  unpromising  beginnings  rose  to  the  front  rank  among 
American  colleges.  It  has  not  only  been  a  pioneer  in  more  than  one 
field  of  scholarship  and  research,  but  its  religious  intluence  has  been 
felt  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  A  pertinent  illustration  is  found  in  the 
folloA\ing:  It  is  related  that  in  the  early  days  of  the  last  century  the 
students  were  accustomed  to  meet  in  the  fields  for  prayer.  On  one 
occasion  a  thunder  storm  drove  them  to  the  shelter  of  a  haystack,  and, 
amid  the  war  of  elements,  there  came  to  some  of  them  the  purpose  to 
"preach  the  gospel  to  e\ery  creature."  Several  of  the  students  be- 
came the  first  and  most  notable  of  American  foreign  missionaries,  and 
the  conferences  of  \\'illiams  CV>llege  students  led  to  the  organization  of 
that  wonderfull}-  efficient  body,  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions. 

Other  potent  educational  agencies  were  the  many  academies 
which  early  dotted  the  county,  and  which  were  the  resort  of  pupils  from 
New  York  and  Boston,  indeed,  from  all  over  the  land,  making  Berk- 
shire the  seat  of  a  great  share  of  the  influence  which  has  made  Massa- 
chusetts the  center  of  literary  and  educational  acti\'ity  and  helpfulness 
for  the  v.hole  land.  To  quote  Mr.  Palmer :  "  Every  one  of  these 
schools  was  no  mere  jjlace  for  giving  the  fashionable  veneering  of  the 
ordinary  boarding  school,  but  rather  the  severe  round  of  training  in 
the  Spartan  virtues  of  hard,  severe,  honest,  legitimate  toil,  and  earning" 
QXQvy  step  of  acK'ance  achieved.  And  from  these  schools,  as  well  as 
from  the  mountain  farms  and  hillside  slopes  (:;'f  the  Housatonic,  there 
has  flowed  a  constant  stream  of  manlv  vigor  which  has  served  to  re- 
plenish the  wear  and  waste  and  strain  of  manv  a  town  and  city  in  every 
portion  of  the  land."     Nor  must  be  overlooked,  as  a  potent  educational 


Haystack   Momiineiit. 


.if 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  37 

agency,  the  libraries  which  were  early  established  in  various  towns. 
The  latter  contained  no  flashy  novels,  but  were  filled  with  standard 
works  of  history,  biography,  travels  and  poetry,  and  social  circles  were 
formed  for  reading  these  works.  Mr.  Hyde,  previously  quoted,  says 
that  young  ladies,  as  they  spun  wool  and  flax,  would  have  "  Paradise 
Lost  ''  or  Young's  "  Night  Thoughts  "  or  some  other  book  before 
them,  and  read  as  they  spun.  Many  young  women  committed  to  mem- 
ory entire  poems,  and  were  well  versed  in  Rollin's  "  Ancient  History  " 
and  "  Plutarch's  Lives."  and  (remarks  Mr.  Hyde)  "  it  has  been  claimed 
by  some,  who  had  an  eye  on  the  first  half  century  of  Berkshire  as  well 
as  the  last  half,  that  the  matrons  of  the  first  period  were  more  con- 
versant with  standard  English  authors  than  are  their  daughters  and 
grand-daughters."  Pertinent  tO'  the  same  topic  is  the  following  from 
the  "  Autobiography  and  Letters  of  Orville  Dewey,  D.  D. :" 


"  For  books  to  read,  the  old  Sheftield  Library  was  my  main  re- 
source. It  consisted  of  about  two  hundred  volumes, — books  of  the 
good  old  fashion,  well  printed,  well  bound  in  calf,  and  well  thumbed,  too. 
What  a  treasure  was  there  for  me!  I  thought  the  mine  could  never 
be  exhausted.  At  least,  it  contained  all  that  I  wanted  then,  and  better 
reading,  I  think,  than  that  which  generally  engages  our  youth  now- 
adays,— the  great  English  classics  in  prose  and  verse,  Addison  and 
Johnson  and  Milton  and  Shakespeare,  'histories,  travels,  and  a  few 
novels.  The  most  of  these  books  I  read,  some  of  them  over  and  over, 
often  by  torchhght,  sitting  on  the  floor  (for  we  had  a  rich  bed  of  old 
pine-knots  on  the  farm)  ;  and  to  this  library  I  owe  more  than  to  any- 
thing that  helped  me  in  my  boyhood.  *  *  *  I  remember  the  time 
when  there  were  eminent  men  in  Sheffield.  Judge  Sedgwick  com- 
menced the  practice  of  the  law^  here;  and  there  were  Esquire  Lee,  and 
John  W.  Hurlbut,  and  later,  Charles  Dewey,  and  a  number  of  profes- 
sional men  besides,  and  several  others  who  were  not  professional,  but 
readers,  and  could  quote  Johnson  and  Pope  and  Shakespeare;  my 
father  himself  could  repeat  the  '  F.ssay  on  Man.'  'uid  whole  books  of 
the  '  Paradise  Lost.'  " 


38  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Berksliire  was  the  liome  of  a  notable  array  of  professional  men — 
clergymen,  lawyers  and  physicians — who  left  a  deep  impress  not  only 
npon  their  own  hvX  succeeding'  generations.  At  the  beginning  the  set- 
tlers were  for  the  greater  number  Puritan  Congregationalists.  The 
business  of  building  churches,  settling  ministers  and  providing  for 
their  support  was  transacted  in  town  meeting.  To  quote  Alexander 
Hyde  ('*  Early  Life  and  Customs"),  "Pastors  were  settled  for  life. 
With  scarecely  an  exception  they  were  graduates  from  college,  and 
eminent  for  scholarship,  ])iety  and  practical  wisdom.  They  constituted 
the  aristocracy  of  the  county,  using-  the  term  in  its  original  meaning 
— government  by  the  best.  To  them  the  people  looked  not  only  for  re- 
ligious instruction,  but  for  counsel  in  all  matters  of  education  and  civil 
polity."  Jonathan  Hubl^ard,  the  first  pastor  in  the  county,  w^as  settled 
in  Sheffield  in  1735,  and  died  there  in  1765.  He  was  settled  in  the 
same  year  John  Sergeant  was  ordained  at  Deerfield.  Mr.  Sergeant 
was  succeeded  by  Jonathan  Edwards,  pronounced  by  many  to  be  "  the 
giant  intellect  of  America."  After  Mr.  Edwards  was  called  to  the 
presidencv  of  Princeton  College  he  was  succeeded  in  his  pastoral  office 
by  Dr.  West,  a  famous  tlieologian,  who  in  the  absence  of  theological 
seminaries  taught  numerous  divinity  students.  Dr.  West  was  jsuc- 
ceeded  by  Dr.  Field.  In  1743  Samuel  Hopkins,  who  was  to  come  to 
large  distinction,  was  settled  at  Great  Barrington,  \\here  he  remained 
until  1770.  when  he  removed  to  Newport,  Rhode  Island.  There  were 
also  famous  preachers  in  the  mountain  towns.  Rew  lliomas  Strong 
settled  at  New  Marlborougii,  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Alexander,  and  he 
by  Dr.  Catlin,  who'  was  author  of  "A  Comi>endium  oi  Theology." 
Adonijah  Bidwell,  settled  at  Tyringham  in  175O',  was  another  strong 
figure,  his  pastorate  covering  a  period  of  thirty-four  years.  Clergy- 
men were  settled  in  central  and  northern  Berkshire  about  a  cjuarter  of 


BE:    .SHIRE  COUNTY  39 

a  century  after  those  in  t  _  aithern  part  of  the  county.  The  renowned 
Thomas  Allen,  the  first  ;;-i"  field  pastor,  was  settled  in  1764.  He  died 
in  18 10,  and  was  succeecNi  '.)y  his  son,  \Villiam  Allen,  afterward  presi- 
dent of  Bowdoin  College,  .  1  he  by  Herman  Humphrey,  who  was  later 
called  to  the  presidency  '  \mherst  College.  Dr.  Hyde  was  settled  in 
Lee  in  1792,  and  Dr.  S'  •.-,     \\  at  Lenox  in  1795. 

To  illustrate  the  deep  feeling  of  that  day,  Mr.  Rollin  H.  Cooke, 
in  his  paper  on  the  Rev.  John  Todd,  D.  D.  (published  in  the  Collec- 
tions of  the  Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  Society,  1899),  notes  a 
letter  written  by  that  eminent  divine,  in  which  he  refused  to  attend  the 
funeral  of  a  friend,  on  account  of  having  tO'  take  part  with  a  Unitarian 
minister,  ])eginning  l^y  saying,  "  I  do  believe  that  Unitarianism  is  not 
the  Gospel  of  Christ,"  and  closing:  "  By  acceding  to  your  polite  invita- 
tion I  come  alongside  of  a  L'nitarian  minister,  and  thereby  puljlicly  ac- 
knowledge him  to  be  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  Sir,  in  \-iew  of  the 
judgment  day,  I  dare  not  do  it."  And  JNIr.  Cooke  observes :  "  Yet 
we  criticise  the  doctrine  of  papal  infallibility." 

The  lawyers  of  the  county,  from  its  foundation,  were  ever  in  the 
lead  in  social  rank,  and  more  especially  in  jjublic  life.  \A'hen  the  county 
was  incorporated  (1761)  there  were  only  fi\e  lawyers  in  active  prac- 
tice, but  they  were  men  of  great  a1)ility.  Among  them  were  John  Hug- 
gins  and  John  Ashley,  in  Sheftield ;  Alark  Hopkins,  in  Great  Barring- 
ton,  and  Theodore  Sedgwick,  in  Stockl)ridge.  The  first  lawyer  in 
Pittsfield  was  Woodbridge  Little,  who  began  practice  there  in  1770. 
David  Noble  settled  in  Williamstown  about  the  same  time,  and  Daniel 
Dewey  came  in  1790.  The  last  named  rose  to  the  supreme  l)ench  of 
the  state,  and  his  legal  and  judicial  traits  reached  to  the  third  genera- 
tion. Later  came  to  Lenox,  Samuel  (juinc}-,  a  graduate  of  Har\ard, 
and  to  Pittsfield.  John  Chandler  Wilhams.      All   these  and  other  illus- 


40  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

trioiis  lawyers  and  jurists  exerted  a  strong-  influence  upon  the  life  of 
the  community  and  upon  the  jurisprudence  of  Massachusetts.  As 
early  as  1815  a  Law  Library  Association  was  formed  by  the  members 
of  the  Berkshire  county  l)ar,  to  procure  law  books  for  use  during  court 
sessions.  By  1829  the  Association  had  collected  upwards  of  three  hun- 
dred volumes,  and  it  has  now  grown  to  more  than  ten  times  this  num- 
ber. 

The  physicians  exerted  less  moulding'  influence  than  did  the  law- 
yers, but  there  were  men  of  lofty  character  and  hig"h  attainments  among 
them.  The  early  practitioners  were  generally  college  graduates  and  men 
of  broad  intellig-ence.  Among  them  were  William  Bull  and  Lemuel 
Barnard,  of  Sheffield ;  John  Buck  and  William  Whiting,  of  Great  Bar- 
rington;  Erastus  Sergeant,  of  Stockbridge ;  John  Crocker  and  Hugo 
Burkhardt,  of  Richmond ;  Oliver  Brewster,  of  Becket,  and  Timothy 
Childs,  of  rittsfield.  Adaptability  for  the  profession  seems  to  have 
been  hereditary  in  some  families,  especially  the  Sergeant,  Brewster  and 
Childs  families. 

Dr.  Erastus  Sergeant  and  Dr.  Oliver  Partridge,  of  Stockbridge, 
were  appointed  in  1785  a  county  corresponding  committee  to  act  in 
conjunction  with  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  incorporated  in 
1 78 1.  This  lerl  to  the  organization  in  1787  of  a  medical  society  at 
Stockbridge,  and  in  1791  a  second  county  association  was  formed,  but 
existed  only  two  years.  Li  18 18  the  legislature  chartered  the  Berk- 
shire Medical  Society,  but  its  organization  was  not  perfected  until  182O'. 
The  I'ittsfield  Medical  Society  was  formed  in  1871,  and  the  North  Berk- 
shire Medical  Society  in  1876. 

in  1821  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  for  the  establishment  of  a 
medical  school,  but  plans  were  long  delayed  on  account  of  the  opposi- 
tion of  the  friends  of  the  one  connected   with   Harvard  Collep-e.     The 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  41 

Berkshire  Medical  College  was  chattered  January  4,  1823,  and  opened 
its  doors  Septemher  1 1  of  the  same  year,  with  the  following-  faculty : 
Dr.  H.  H.  Childs,  theory  and  practice  of  medicine ;  Dr.  J-  P-  Batch- 
elder,  anatomy,  surgery  and  physiology ;  Dr.  Asa  Burhank,  materia 
medica;  Professor  Chester  Dewey,  of  Williams  College,  chemistry,  bot- 
any and  mineralogy.  Lectures  on  obstetrics  were  tO'  be  delivered,  but 
the  lecturer  was  not  named.  In  1821  the  old  Pittsfield  Hotel  was 
bougiht  for  school  uses,  and  received  about  twenty-five  students.  In 
1823  the  legislature  made  the  college  a  grant  of  $5,000,  to  be  paid  in 
five  annual  installments.  The  building  used  as  a  lecture  room  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1850,  and  the  legislature  made  a  further  erant  of 
$10,000,  while  the  citizens  of  Berkshire  contributed  $5,000,  and  a  new 
edifice  was  erected,  the  dedication  taking  place  August  5,  185 1.  After 
many  vicissitudes  the  college  closed  its  doors  in  187 1,  sellino-  its  build- 
ing to  the  town,  which  remodeled  it  for  school  purposes.  The  sum 
accruing  from  the  sale,  after  paying  the  college  indebtedness,  was 
turned  over  to  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum. 

During  its  forty-four  years'  existence,  the  Berkshire  Medical  Col- 
lege graduated  eleven  hundred  and  thirty-eight  doctors  in  medicine, 
who  held  a  rank  equal  tO'  that  of  those  sent  out  by  any  American  school 
of  medicine  of  that  day.  As  was  observed  by  J.  E.  A.  Snu'th  (*'  His- 
tory of  Berkshire  County  "),  "  It  had  a  large  share  in  the  advancem.ent 
of  medical  science  and  the  elevation  of  medical  character.  It  had  at- 
tracted to  Pittsfield,  in  its  faculty  and  others,  persons  of  culture  who 
had  adorned  the  society  of  the  village  while  they  mingled  with  it,  and 
left  it  the  better  for  their  presence,  and,  when  it  could  no  longer  cred- 
itably perform  the  work  which  was  entrusted  to  it,  it  gracefully  yielded 
the  place  to  those  who  could."  During  the  existence  of  the  college 
voluntary  associations   were    formed   among   the   students    for    mutual 


42  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

literary  and  professional  improvement.  In  these  toc^k  part  some  who^ 
achieved  a  high  place  in  educational  life,  among  them  President  Mark 
Hopkins,  of  Williams  College,  and  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland.  Drs.  Thayer 
and  Stiles  entered  upon  the  publication  of  the  Berkshire  Medical  Jour- 
nal in  1861  ;  it  greatly  intensified  the  local  esprit  du  corps  of  the  pro- 
fession, and,  though  it  was  continued  but  one  year,  left  an  enduring 
influence. 

The  local  press  is  not  to  be  overlooked  in  epitomizine  the  influ- 
ences which  were  potent  in  the  education  of  the  people  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  interests  of  the  community  at  large.  The  first  newspaper 
established  was  the  American  Centinel,  by  E.  Russell.  The  first  num- 
ber appeared  December  i,  1787,  and  its  existence  was  but  brief.  At 
tluit  time  there  \Aere  but  two  other  papers  in  ^Massachusetts  west  of 
Worcester.  The  Centinel  was  succeeded  by  the  Berkshire  Chronicle, 
which  issued  its  first  number  May  8,  178S,  Roger  Storrs  being  the  pub- 
lisher. It  was  only  twelve  by  eight  inches  in  size,  but  at  its  thirtv-first 
number  was  amplified  to  eighteen  by  twelve  inches.  It  was  ably  con- 
ducted and  enjoyed  a  wide  popularity.  There  was  then  no  postoffice  in 
the  county  (the  first,  at  Stockbridge,  was  not  opened  until  1792),  and 
post  riders  were  irregular,  making  their  trips  at  long-  intervals.  In 
January,  1790.  the  Chronicle  announced  that  "  the  printer  (Mr.  Storrs), 
ever  endeavoring  to  furnish  his  customers  with  the  earliest  intelligence, 
had  engaged  a  post  to  ride  weekly  from  his  office  in  Pittsfield  to  Spring- 
field on  Mondays  and  return  on  Wednesdays,  with  the  papers  published 
in  tlie  different  States  in  the  Lhiion,  when  matters  of  importance 
(brought)  by  them  will  be  published  by  the  Chronicle  on  Thursday,  and 
immediately  circulated  to  the  several  towns  by  the  different  post  riders." 

In  1827  the  people  of  northern  Berkshire  determined  ujion  the 
establishment    of   a   newspaper    in    that    portion    of   the   county,    and    a 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  43 

strong  rivalry  grew  up  1>et\veen  North  Adams,  South  Adams  and  Wil- 
hamstown,  aspiring  pohticians  heing  the  principal  factors  in  hehalf  of 
their  respective  towns.  A  committee  of  North  Adams  people  achieved 
the  victor}',  and  in  one  night  hrought  from  Pittsfield  a  press  and  types 
and  workmen.  From  this  equipment  was  produced  on  Fel^ruary  23, 
1827,  the  first  number  of  the  Berkshire  American,  published  by  Asa 
Green,  a  man  of  character  and  a  ready  writer.  The  journals  thus  named 
were  the  forerunners  of  many,  some  ephemeral,  some  of  permanent  es- 
tablishment, and  all  contributing  in  less  or  larger  degree  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county  along  material  lines,  and  the  upholding  of  higher 
standards  of  education  and  intelligence. 

In  various  lines  the  county  of  Berkshire  has  ever  been  an  advanced 
leader  in  thought  and  action.  Indeed,  one  writer  (Mr.  H.  M.  Plunkett) 
has  said  "  we  claim  that  more  of  those  first  things  that  draw  the  chariot 
of  progress  forward  so  that  people  can  see  it  has  moved,  ha^•e  been 
planned  and  executed  In-  the  inhabitants  of  the  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
square  miles  that  constitute  the  territory  of  Berkshire,  than  can  be 
credited  to  any  other  tract  of  equal  extent  in  the  United  States."  A 
student  of  Williams  College,  as  early  as  1806  (long  before  a  railroad 
had  been  constructed  in  the  world),  broached  the  idea  of  a  railroad 
from  Boston  to  Albany.  In  1826,  through  the  effort  of  people  of 
Stockbridge,  the  scheme  was  seriously  advanced  in  the  legislature,  and 
in  the  subsequent  construction  over  the  Berkshire  hills  was  first  demon- 
strated the  practicabilitv  of  operating  railroads  on  severe  ascending  and 
descending  grades,  as  well  as  upon  the  level.  Here  was  overcome  the 
steepest  grade  of  the  day  (eighty-five  feet  to  the  mile),  and  the  feat 
was  deemed  such  a  man-el  of  engineering  that  the  point  was  visited 
and  studied  bv  railroad  builders  from  Great  Britain  and  various  of  the 


M  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

continental  countries.  Tn  the  same  year  was  suggested  the  (ireat  Hoosac 
Tunnel,  one  of  the  largest  in  the  world,  the  construction  of  which  was, 
however,  long  delayed.  It  was  begun  in  1863  and  completed  in  1873, 
and  so  accurate  was  the  work,  begun  at  opposite  sides  of  the  mountain, 
that,  when  the  w-orkmen  met,  it  was  found  that  the  variation  in  the 
alignment  was  less  than  an  inch,  and  in  the  level  less  than  three  inches, 
in  the  entire  length  of  four  and  three-fourths  mJles.  In  JS26  also,  an 
elevated  railroad  w^as  proposed  by  Theodore  Sedgwick,  of  Stockbridge. 
The  principle  of  electric  railroads  was  patented  by  Stephen  Field,  of 
the  same  town ;  and  the  Atlantic  telegraph  cable  had  its  inception  in 
the  brain  of  another  Stockbridge  man,  Cyrus  W.  Field,  w'ho  carried 
the  project  forward  to  its  consummation. 

]n  more  recent  days  have  been  founded  within  the  borders  of  the 
county  manufacturing  enterprises  of  first  importance,  tlie  products  of 
^^'hich  are  familiar  in  every  market  reached  by  American  commerce, 
and  which  have  made  the  names  of  Pittsfield,  Dalton,  Hinsdale,  Great 
Barrington,  Adams,  North  Adams.  Williamstown,  Lee,  and  others, 
widely  known.  At  Lee  was  made  tlie  first  wood  pulp,  and  the  first 
paper  from  that  material;  and  at  Dalton  are  located  the  mills  where 
is  made  the  distinctive  paper  upon  which  is  printed  the  bonds  and  bills 
of  the  United  States,  all  the  manufacturing  operations  being  carried 
on  under  the  direct  supervision  of  agents  of  the  United  States  Treasury 
Department. 


The  natural  beauties  of  old  Berkshire,  its  churches  and  its  grave- 
yards with  their  hallowed  memories,  its  ancestral  homes  with  their 
annals  and  traditions,  have  been,  through  the  years,  an  inspiration  to 
men  and  women  of  letters,  historians  and  poets,  some  native  to  the  soil, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


45 


others  A\ho  came  to  dwell  for  a  time  and  ply  their  pens  con  aniore,  in 
midst  of  congenial  and  suggestive  surroundings. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards  resided  in  Stockbridge  from  the  time 
he  came  to  succeed  the  Rev.  John  Sergeant  as  teacher  and  preacher, 
until  he  was  called  to  the  presiden.cy  of  Princeton  (New  Jersey)  Col- 
lege. Here,  in  a  house  known  a?  Edwards  Hall  (torn  down  only  a 
few  years  ago)  in  a  room  six  by  fifteen  feet,  he  wTote  his  great  treatises 
on  "Freedom  of  the  Will,"  "The  Nature  of  Virtue,"  and  "Original 
Sin."  A  remarkable  instance  of  his  precocious  genius  and  knowledge 
is  afforded  in  the  following,  \\ritten  by  him  when  he  was  about  twelve 
vears  old : 


"  There  are  some  things  that  I  have 
happily  seen  of  the  wondrous  way  of  the 
working  of  the  spider.  *  *  *  Every- 
body that  is  used  to  the  country  knows 
their  marching  in  the  air  from  one  tree 
to  another,  sometimes  to  the  distance  of 
five  or  six  rods.  Nor  can  one  go  out  in  a 
dewy  morning  in  the  latter  end  of  Au- 
gust and  the  beginning  of  September  but 
he  shall  see  multitudes  of  webs,  made  vis- 
ible by  the  dew  that  hangs  on  them, 
reaching  from  one  tree,  branch,  or  shrub, 
to  another;  which  webs  are  commonly 
thought  to  be  made  in  the  night,  be- 
cause they  appear  only  in  the  morn- 
ing; whereas  none  of  them  are  made  in  the  night,  as  these 
spiders  never  come  out  in  the  night  when  it  is  dark,  as  the 
dew  is  then  falling.  But  these  webs  may  be  seen  well  enough 
in  the  day-time  by  an  observing  eye,  by  their  reflection  in  the 
sunbeams.  Especially  late  in  the  afternoon  may  these  webs  that  are 
betw'een  the  eye  and  that  part  of  the  horizon  that  is  under  the  sun,  be  seen 
very  plainly.  *  *  *  And  the  spiders  themseb-es  may  be  \tvy  often 
seen  traveling  in  the  air,  from  one  stage  to  another  amongst  the  trees,  in 
a  \-ery  unaccountable  manner.  But  I  have  often  seen  that  which  is  much 
more  astonishing.  In  very  calm  and  serene  days  in  the  forenientioned 
time  of  year,  standing  at  some  distance  1:>ehind  the  end  of  a  house  or 


Jonathan    Edwards. 


46  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


some  other  opaque  Ixxly,  so  as  just  to  hide  the  (hsk  of  the  sun  and  keep 
off  his  dazzHng-  rays,  and  looking  along-  close  by  the  side  of  it,  I  have 
seen  a  vast  multitude  of  little  shining  webs  and  glistening  strines  brightly 
reflecting  the  sunbeams,  and  some  of  them  of  great  length,  and  of  such 
height  that  one  would  think  thev  were  tacked  to  the  vault  of  the  heavens." 


His  old  study  table  is  preser^'ed  in  the  Stockbridge  ^•illage  library, 
and  a  monument  to  his  memory,  erected  by  his  descendants,  stands  upon 
the  church  lawn. 

Among  other  eminent  divines  resident  in  Berkshire  was  the  Rev. 
John  Todd,  for  thirty  years  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Pittsfield.  He 
was  famous  not  only  as  a  preacher  but  as  an  author,  and  the  greater 
i:umber  of  his  works  were  here  written.  He  was  an  adept  in  writing 
for  yoiith,  and  am')ng-  his  most  widely  distributed  volumes  were  ''  Lec- 
tures to  Children,"  which  went  through  many  editions,  in  Ensiand  as 
well  as  in  America,  and  was  translated  into  the  French,  German,  Greek, 
Bulgarian,  Tamil  and  other  languages;  and  the  "Student's  Manual," 
of  which  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  copies  were  sold 
\n  London,  England.  Among  others  of  his  works  were:  "  Truth  Made 
Simple,"  and  "  Nuts  for  Boys  to  Crack."  In  his  "  Simple  Sketches," 
and  i^articularly  in  his  "  Summer  Gleanings,"  he  gave  poetical  descrip- 
tion of  the  Berkshire  country,  interspersed  with  moraliziups  at  times 
delightful,  and  at  times  sweetly  if  rather  mournfully  pathetic,  as  in  'his 
narrati\'e  of  the  dedication  of  the  new  cemetery: 


"  We  have  just  returned  from  dedicating  our  new  cemetery.  It  is 
of  very  great  extent.  Solemn  woods,  sunny  lawns,  pleasant  hills  and 
dales,  and  a  singing  stream,  which,  stopping  once  in  its  course,  forms  a 
beautiful  little  lakelet, —  all  are  found  in  our  chosen  restinp--nlace  for 
the  dead.  Miles  of  smooth  carriage  road  wind  among-  the  hillocks  and 
trees,  and  as  the  stranger  rides  now  in  sunlight  and  now  in  shade,  he 
confesses  that  no  expense  has  been  spared,  and  that  it  is  an  honor  to  the 
town.      But   the   dedication.      The  morning-  was   beautifully  clear,   and, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  47 


as  the  thousands  gathered  to  mo\'e  in  procession,  no  banner  or  martial 
music  clisturlied  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  The  liell  tolling,  a  single 
bass-drum  beating  time  to  our  footsteps,  the  procession,  a  mile  in  lengih, 
went  forward  to  tlie  grounds.  In  one  of  the  beautiful  giroves,  and  on 
the  side  of  a  hill,  the  seats  and  the  platform  were  arranged,  and  at  least 
three  thousand  sat  down  in  silence.  The  exercises  consisted  of  prayer, 
reading  the  Scriptures,  singing,  addresses,  and  a  sweet  poem  from  a 
most  gifted  mind, —  Dr.  Holmes.  We  seemed  to  be  standing  between 
the  living  and  the  dead. 

"  We  were  drawn  back  to  the  past  and  connected  with  our  fathers: 
for  \\Q  are  to  remove,  as  far  as  possible,  all  the  dead  who  have  been 
buried  in  this  town  since  its  first  settlement,  and  lay  their  bones  here, 
to  be  disturbed  no  more,  we  trust,  till  the  resurrection  day. 

"  \\q  were  solemn,  for  we  seemed  to  lie  looking  into  our  own 
graves;  for  though  it  is  now  'a  new  sepulchre  wherein  never  man  was 
yet  laid,'  yet  we  knew  that  the  first  graves  would  soon  be  opened,  and 
that  beneath  these  lofty  trees  our  own  dust  must  shortly  sleep.  \\'t  were 
connected  with  the  future,  for  we  knew  that  it  would  be  at  least  two 
hundred,  perhaps  five  hundred  years,  before  the  dead  will  again  call 
for  nioi"e  room.  We  were  doing  what  will  not  be  again  done  here  for 
centuries,  and  here  the  dust  of  our  cliildren  and  of  our  posteritv  is  to 
be  g'athered.  And  we  thought  how  we  should  then  1>e  centuries  old 
ourselves,  and  through  how  many  strange  scenes  of  thinking,  feeling, 
hoping,  fearing,  suffering,  and  enjoying,  we  should  pass  ere  that  day 
conies." — Eroiii  "Suiiiiiicr  Gleanings." 


Dr.  W^illiam  Ellery  Clianning,  the  first  leader  among  Unitarian 
clergymen  and  writers,  and  who  upon  the  platform  was  not  surpassed 
bv  any  American  orator,  passed  se\eral  summers  in  Lenox,  in  quest  of 
health.  Among  his  congenial  friends  while  there  were  Catherine  Sedg- 
wick and  Fannie  Kemble.  At  Lenox,  on  August  ist,  1842,  he  delivered 
an  address  on  the  anniversary  of  the  enianci]iation  of  slaves  in  the 
British  West  Indies,  an  effort  of  great  power  and  elociuence. 

The  Rev.  Mark  Hopkins,  D.  D.,  the  revered  president  of  Williams 
College  for  a  period  of  thirty  years,  was  born  in  (ireat  Barrin^ton. 
Among  his  published  works  was  his  "  Outline  Study  of  Man."  He  was 
intensely  loyal  to  his  town  and  county,  and  prided  in  their  remarkable 


48 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


history.      In   an   address   delivered  at   the  Edwards   family   meeting  in 
Stcckbridge.  in  vSeptember,  1870,  he  said: 


"  For  a  town  no  larger  than  this,  there  have  been  and  are  connected 
with  it,  by  residence  or  birth,  an  unusual  number  of  those  whose  names 
will  live  in  history.  In  the  same  line  with  Edwards,  West  and  Field 
were  great  men,  and  were  worthy  of  the  tablets  in  this  church  by  which 

they  are  commemorated  in  connection 
with  him.  In  another  line  are  the 
names  of  Judge  Sedgwick,  and  Miss 
Catharine  Sedgwick,  and  Mrs.  Theo- 
dore Sedgwick.  We  have  also  among 
the  living  a  codifier  of  laws,  the  riiost 
eminent  of  this  age  (David  Dudley 
Field)  ;  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States  (Stephen  J. 
Field)  ;  and  still  another  (Cyrus  W. 
Field),  whose  name  will  be  remem- 
bered as  long  as  the  swift  messages  of 
the  telegraph  shall  make  the  ocean-bed 
their  highway,  and  shall  outrun  the  sun 
in  his  course.  At  the  head  of  these, 
Edwards  stands,  the  greatest  of  all 
*  *  *  ;  not  great  before  God  (for, 
that  no  man  can  be),  but  great  as  walking  humbly  with  him." 


Mark  Hopkins. 


Henry  Ward  Beecher  owned  a  farm  in  Lenox,  and  passed  several 
summers  there  with  his  family.  Many  of  the  brilliant  word-pictures 
which  he  drew  for  his  hearers  in  Plymouth  Church,  Brooklyn,  were 
drawn  from  the  hills  and  streams  of  Berkshire,  and  his  religious  and 
ethical  teachings  were  inspired  in  many  instances  by  recollections  of 
Jonathan  Edwards  and  Mark  Hopkins,  as  he  traversed  the  paths  once 
trodden  by  them.  Here  he  wrote  his  famous  "  Star  Papers,"  in  which 
he  drew  lessons  of  pregnant  import  from  most  inconsequential  objects: 


"  Ten  million  wings  of  despised  flies  and  useless  insects  are  mightier 
than  hand  or  foot  of  mine.     Each  mortal  thing  carries  some  quality  of 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  49 

distinguishing  excellence  by  which  it  may  glory,  and  say,  '  In  this,  1 
am  first  in  all  the  world !  ' 

"  Since  the  same  hand  made  me  that  made  them,  and  the  same 
care  feeds  them  that  spreads  my  board,  let  there  be  fellowship  between 
us.  =!<  *  *  i^  |;oo,  am  but  an  insect  on  a  larger  scale.  Are  there  not 
those  who  tread  w^ith  unsounding  feet  through  the  invisible  air,  of  being 
so  vast,  that  I  seem  to  them  but  a  mite,  a  flitting  insect  ?  And  of  capac- 
ities so  noble  and  eminent,  that  all  the  stories  which  I  could  bring  of 
thought  and  feeling-  to  them  would  be  but  as  the  communing  of  a  grass- 
hopper with  me,  or  the  chirp  of  a  sparrow? 

"  The  line  that  divides  between  the  animal  and  the  divine  is  the 
line  of  suffering.  The  animal,  for  its  own  pleasure,  inflicts  suffering. 
The  divine  endures  suffering-  for  another's  pleasure.  Xot  then  when 
he  went  up  to  the  proportions  of  original  glory  was  Christ  the  greatest ; 
but  when  he  descended,  and  wore  our  form,  and  bore  our  sins  and  sor- 
rows, that  by  his  stripes  we  might  be  healed !  " 


Dr.  Orville  Dewey,  an  eminent  Unitarian  preacher,  was  born  in 
Sheffield,  and  came  back  to  spend  his  declining  days  and  pass  awav. 
His  "  Autobiography  "  is  rich  in  description  of  Berkshire  countv  scenes 
and  recollections  of  the  active  men  of  a  past  generation,  as  evidenced 
bv  the  follow'ine  frao-ment : 


"  *  *  '•'  I  remember  nothing  till  the  first  event  in  my  early 
childhood,  and  that  was  acting  in  a  play.  It  was  performed  in  the 
church,  as  a  part  of  a  school  exhibition.'  The  stage  was  laid  upon  the 
pews,  and  the  audience  seated  in  the  gallery.  I  must  have  -been  about 
five  years  old  then,  and  I  acted  the  part  of  a  little  son.  *  *  *  We 
are  apt  to  think  of  the  Puritan  times  as  all  rigor  and  strictness.  .\nd 
yet  here,  nearly  60  years  ago,  was  a  play  acted  in  the  meeting-house : 
the  church  turned  into  a  theatre.  And  I  remember  my  mother's  telling 
me  that  when  she  was  a  girl  her  father  carried  her  on  a  pillion  to  the 
raising  of  a  church  in  Pittsfield ;  and  the  occasion  was  celebrated  Ijy  a 
ball'  in  the  evening.     *     *     * 

"  The  next  thing  that  I  remember,  as  an  event  in  m_\-  childhood. 
was  the  funeral  of  General  Ashley,  one  of  our  townsmen,  who  had 
served  as  colonel,  I  think,  in  the  \\'ar  of  the  Revolution.  I  was  then 
in  my  sixth  year.  It  was  a  military  funeral ;  and  the  procession,  for  a 
long  distance,  filled  the  wide  street.     The  music,  the  solemn  march,  the 


50 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


bier  borne  in  the  midst,  the  crowd! — it  seemed  to  me  as  if  the  whole 
world  was  at  a  funeral.     *     ''"     * 

"  *  =i'-  -  I  remember  the  time  when  I  really  feared  that  if  T 
went  out  into  the  fields  to  walk  on  Sunday,  bears  would  come  down 
from  the  mountain  and  catch  me.  *  *  *  What  mistaken  notions 
of  life,  of  the  world, — the  great,  gay.  garish  world,  all  full  of  cloud- 
castles,  ships  laden  with  gold,  pleasures  endless  and  entrancing!  \'\niat 
mistaken  impressions  about  nature ;  about  the  material  world  upon  which 
childhood  has  alighted,  and  of  which  it  must  necessarily  be  ignorant; 
about  clouds  and  storms  and  tempests ;  and  of  the  heavens  al>ove,  sun 
and  moon  and  stars!" 


Among  the  authors  of  Berkshire  county  must  be  named  the  Rev. 
David   Dudley   Field,   of   Stockbridge.   who   performed   a   labor  of   love 

and     on^     of     permanent 

value  in  his  "  History  of 

Berkshire    County."      He 

was    the    father    of    four 

notable     sons,     three     of 

^^■hom  are  eulogized  upon 

another  page  of  this  work 

in    a    quotation    from    the 

Rev.  Mark  Hopkins.    The 

fourth  son.  Dr.  Henry  M. 

Field,   was  a  well  known 

traveler    and    author, 

whose    "  From    Egypt    to    Japan,"    and    "Among    the    Holy    Hills," 

gave  pleasure  to  a  past  gen.eration.  and  whose  "  History  of  the  .Vtlantic 

Telegraph"    (the  great  achievement  of  his  brother),   will  ever  remain 

as  an  authentic  narrative  of  that  stupendous  undertaking. 

Nor  must  be  left  unmentioned  one  whose  indefatigable  labor  has 
gi\en   to  the   county  and  country   a   work  of  monumental   importance, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  51 

Mr.  J.   E.   A.   Smith,   who  A\rote  the  "  History  of  Pittsfield,"  the  first 
vokime  |ni1;hshecl  in  1869,  and  the  second  in  1876. 

At  Stockljridge  was  1»rn  Catherine  Maria  Sedgiwick,  the  first 
among  American  women  to  achieve  a  real  fame  in  hteratnre.  and  here 
repose  her  remains  in  the  Sedgwick  family  plat  in  the  village  cemetery. 
Her  works  found  admiring"  readers  even  in  England,  unfriendh'  as  were 
its  people  to  New  A\'orld  authors.  Among"  her  most  widelv  and  favor- 
ably known  books  are:  "The  Linwoods,"  and  "Hope  Leslie."  She 
charmingly  pictured  many  of  the  natural  beauties  of  the  Berkshire  re- 
gion and  vividly  described  the  New  England  life  of  her  dav.  She  was 
the  peer  of  Cooper  in  dejecting'  the  Indian,  e\en  then  well  nigh  \'anished 
from  view : 

"  The  Indian  strang-er  was  tall  for  her  years,  which  did  not  exceed 
fifteen.  Her  form  was  slender,  flexible  and  graceful;  and  there  was  a 
freedom  and  loftiness  in  her  movement  which,  though  tempered  with 
modesty,  expressed  a  consciousness  of  high  birth.  Her  face,  although 
marked  b}-  the  peculiarities  of  her  race,  was  beautiful  even  to  a  Euro- 
pean eye.  Her  features  were  regular,  and  her  teeth  white  as  pearls ; 
but  there  must  be  something  beyond  symmetry  of  feature  to  fix  the 
attention,  and  it  was  an  expression  of  dignity,  thoughtfulness,  and  deep 
dejection  that  made  the  eye  linger  on  Magawiska's  face,  as  if  it  were 
perusing  there  the  legible  record  of  her  birth  and  wrongs.  Her  hair, 
contrary  to  the  fashion  of  the  Massachusetts  Indians,  was  parted  on 
her  forehead,  braided,  and  confined  to  her  head  by  a  liand  of  small 
feathers,  jet  black,  and  interwoven,  and  attached  at  equal  distances  by 
rings  of  polished  bone.  She  wore  a  waistcoat  of  deerskin,  fastened  at 
the  throat  by  a  richly-wrought  collar.  Her  arms,  a  model  for  sculpture, 
were  bare.  A  mantle  of  purple  cloth  hung  gracefully  from  her  shoul- 
ders, and  was  confined  at  the  waist  l>y  a  broad  band  ornamented  with 
rude  hieroglyphics.  The  mantle,  and  her  strait  short  petticoat,  or  kilt, 
of  the  same  rare  and  costly  material,  had  been  obtained,  i)robal)h-,  from 
the  English  traders.  Stockings  were  an  unknown  luxur\- :  but  leggins, 
similar  to  those  worn  by  the  ladies  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  court,  were  no 
bad  substitute.  The  moccasin,  neatly  fitted  to  a  delicate  foot  and  ankle, 
and  tastefull}-  ornamented  with  bead-work,  completed  the  apparel  of 
this  daughter  of  a  chieftain." — Eroni  "'  Hope  Leslie :  or  Ear/x  Times  in 
The  Alassaciiuseffs,"  bv  Cat  liar  ine  Maria  Sed^^ieiek. 


52  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Here,  in  Sheffield,  was  born  George  F.  Root,  author  of  many  pop- 
ular hymns  and  ballads,  and  whose  war  songs  quickened  the  feet  of 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  "  Boys  in  Blue  "  as  they  marched  to  battle 
and  final  \'ictory  during  the  days  of  the  slaveholders'  rel^ellion.  His 
services  to  the  Union  during  that  dreadful  epoch  were  immeasurable. 
The  writer  of  this  narrative  has  in  mind  an  incident  pertinent  to  the 
present  mention.  It  was  at  a  great  gathering  in  tlie  Auditorium  in  Chi- 
cago, shortly  before  the  death  of  General  William  T.  Sherman,  who 
presided.  The  assemblage  was  in  large  part  made  ui>  of  veterans  of 
the  war,  and  among  them  were  many  officers  of  high  rank  and  national 
fame.  A  principal  feature  was  a  program  of  war  songs  sung  by  a 
great  chorus  of  children  and  young  people.  The  audience  broke  into 
storms  of  applause  in  listening  to 

"  Yes,  we'll  rally  'round  the  flag,  boys, 

Rally  once  again. 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom,  " 
and 

"  Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  bo}'s  are  marching. 

Cheer  up,  comrades,  they  will  come," 

and  broke  into  sobs  when  the  voices  of  the  singers  tremulously  sang 

"  Just  before  the  battle,  mother, 
I  am  tinnking  most  of  you. 

Farewell,  mother,  you  may  never 
Press  me  to  your  heart  again." 

A  one-armed  veteran,  who  had  \^•orn  the  star  of  a  general,  saw  Mr. 
Root   in   the  audience,   immediatelv   in   front   of  him,    leaned   over  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  53 

grasped  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Mr.  Root,  I  would  rather  have  been  the 
writer  of  your  songs  than  to  have  commanded  an  army  corps  of  ten 
thousand  men."  Men  turned  to  witness  the  interruption,  and,  as  Mr. 
Root  came  to  be  recognized,  his  name  was  \'ociferously  called  out  from 
all  parts  of  the  house.  He  was  obliged  to  mount  a  chair,  having  in  his 
diffidence  declined  a  call  to  the  stage,  and  received  an  ovation  which 
his  voice  could  not  acknowledge,  and  to  which  his  tears  were  the  only 
response. 

Another  native  of  Berkshire  county  was  Henr}-  Shaw,  who,  as 
"  Josh  Billings,"  has  been  called  "  the  queerest  and  wisest  of  humor- 
ists," and  who  ga^-e  to  his  countrymen  an  old  philosophy  of  life  in 
quaintest  phrase.  In  pretended  ignorance,  he  broke  into  many  eccen- 
tricities of  expression : 

''  The  village  of  New  Ashford  iz  one  ov  them  towns  that  don't 
make  ennv  fuss,  but  for  pure  water,  pure  morals  and  good  rye  and 
injun  bread  it  stands  on  tiptoze.  *  *  *  If  yu  luv  a  mountain  cum 
up  here  and  see  me.  Right  in  front  ov  the  little  tavern  whare  I  am 
staying  rizes  up  a  chunk  ov  land  that  will  make  yu  feel  week  tew  look 
at  it.  I  ha\-  bin  on  its  top,  and  far  above  w^az  the  brite  blu  ski,  wdthout 
a  kloud  swimmin  in  it,  while  belo  me  the  rain  shot  slantin  on  the  valley, 
and  the  litenin  plade  its  mad  pranks.  *  '•'  *  The  fust  thing  i  do 
in  the  morning  when  i  git  up  iz  tew  go  out  and  look  at  the  mountain 
and  see  if  it  iz  thare.  If  this  mountain  should  go  away,  how  lonesum 
i  should  be.  Yesterday  i  picked  one  quart  ov  field  strawberries,  kaught 
27  trout  and  gathered  a  whole  parcell  ov  wintergreen  leaves,  a  big 
daze  work.  When  i  got  'home  last  nite  tired,  no-  man  kould  hav  lx)ught 
them  ov  me  for  700  dollars,  but  i  suppoze  after  all  that  it  waz  the  th'cd 
that  waz  wuth  the  munnv.  Thare  iz  a  grate  deal  ov  raw^  bliss  in  gittin 
tired." 

At  ]\It.  Washington  lived  Elaine  and  Dora  Read  Goodale,  known 
as  the  "  Skv  Farm  Poets,"  who  began  their  \'erse  making  at  the  early 
age  of  nine  years. 


54 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


Of  later  day  authors  are  H.  H.  Ballard,  author  of  the  "  World  of 
Matter,"  and  various  text-hooks  and  special  pages;  William  Stearns 
Davis,  author  of  "A  Friend  of  Cjcsar; '"  Mrs.  H.  M.  Plunkett.  author 
of  "  Life  of  Dr.  J.  G.  Holland:  "'  and  Anna  L.  Dawes,  author  of  "  The 
World  of  Matter." 

Lenox  \\'\\\  ever  preserve  as  a  tender  reminiscence  the  memorv  of 
Nathaniel   Hawthorne,   who,   coming-  to   Berkshire  in   search  of   health, 

in  the  "  Little  Red  House  '' 
(and  probably  at  his  desk 
which  is  preserved  in  the  Berk- 
shire Athenaeum),  wrote  some 
of  his  most  delightful  works 
— "  The  House  of  the  Seven 
Gables,"  and  his  "  Tangiewoo-d 
Tales,"  the  book  taking  its  title 
from  the  name  by  which  his 
home  place  was  known.  His  ".\merican  Xote-Book  "  contained  many 
excellent  descriptions  of  Berkshire  county  scenery  : 


"  Hudson's  Cave  is  formed  by  Hudson's  Brook.  There  is  a  natu- 
ral arch  of  marble  stiJl  in  one  part  of  it.  The  cliffs  are  partly  made 
verdant  w  ith  green  moss,  chiefly  gray  with  oxidation ;  on  some  parts 
the  white  of  the  marble  is  seen ;  *  *  '•'  there  is  naked  sublimity 
seen  through  a  good  deal  of  clustering  beaut}-.  Above,  the  birch,  pop- 
lars, and  pines  grow  on  the  utmost  verge  of  the  cliffs,  which  jut  far 
over,  so  that  they  are  suspended  in  air ;  and  whenever  the  sunshine  finds 
its  wav  into  the  depths  of  the  chasm  the  l>ranches  wave  across  it. 
There  is  a  lightness,  however,  about  their  foliage,  which  greatly  re- 
lieves what  would  otherwise  be  a  gloomy  scene.  After  the  passage  of 
the  stream  through  the  cliffs  of  marble,  the  cliffs  separate  on  either  side, 
and  lea^•e  it  to  flow  onward  ;  intercepting  its  passage,  however,  by  frag- 
ments of  marble,  some  of  them  huge  ones,  which  the  cliff's  have  flung 
down,  thundering  into  the  bed  of  the  stream  through  numberless  ages. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


Oi) 


Doubtless  some  of  these  immense  fragments  had  trees  growing  on  them, 
which  have  now  mouldered  away.  Decaying  trunks  are  heaped  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  gorge.  The  pieces  of  marble  that  are  washed  by  the 
water  are  of  a  snow-white,  and  partially  covered  with  a  bright  green 
water-moss,  making  a  beautiful  contrast. 

"  Among  the  cliffs  strips  of  earth-beach  extend  downward,  and  trees 
and  large  shrubs  root  themseh'cs  in  that  earth,  thus  further  contrasting 
the  nakedness  of  the  stone  with  their  green  foliage.  But  the  immediate 
part  where  the  stream  forces  its  winding  passage  through  the  rock  is 
stern,  dark,  and  mysterious.      *     *     * 

"  The  cave  makes  a  fresh  impression 
upon  me  every  time  I  visit  it, — so  deep,  so 
irregular,  so  gloomy,  so  stern.  *  *  * 
I  stand  and  look  into  its  depths  at  various 
points,  and  hear  the  roar  of  the  stream  re- 
echoing up.  It  is  like  a  heart  that  has  been 
rent  asunder  by  a  torrent  of  passion." — 
From  Ha-LvtJwrncs  "  Aiucrican  Nofc- 
Book." 


Nathaniel    Hriwllu  r;.c. 


Among  those  whose  memory  is  most 
pleasantly  treasured  is  Fanny  Keml^le.  At- 
tracted to  Lenox,  she  here  built  a  cottage  \\hich  was  her  summer 
home  for  a  space  of  thirty  years,  and  where  she  wrote  a  number 
of  works,  poetry  and  prose,  among  them  "  Sketches  of  a  Girlhood." 
A  gift  from  her  remains  in  a  clock  in  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
it  is  pleasantly  remembered  that  the  purchase  was  made  with  means 
earned  by  her  Shakesperian  readings  one  evening  in  the  long-ago.  She 
penned  an  ode  for  the  Berkshire  Jubilee  of  1844,  <'^'''t^  which  contained 
the  followino-  stanza : 


"  And  may  God  guard  thee,  oh,  thou  loxely  land. 

Danger,  rior  evil,  nigh  thy  borders  come. 
Green  towers  of  freedom  may  thy  hills  still  stand. 

Still  be  each  valley  peace  and  virtue's  home ; 
The  stranger's  grateful  blessing  rest  on  thee, 
And  firm  as  Heaven  be  thy  prosperit}' !  '' 


56 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


At  Lenox  also  was  the  Rev.  John  T.  Headley,  who  on  stirring' 
pages  fought  again  the  l^attles  of  Napoleon,  and  Washington,  and  Grant ; 
the  scliolarly  Dean  Stanley,  of  England;  and  the  romantic  novelist,  G. 
P.  R.  James. 

At  "  Arrowhead,"  near  Pittsfield,  abode  for  a  time  Herman  Mel- 
ville, traveler,  author  and  lecturer,  and  who  gave  name  to  the  place 
through  the  incident  of  his  there  picking-  up  a  flint  arrow-point,  and  here 
wrote  his  famous  "  Piazza  Tales." 


"  In  the  summer,  too,  Canute-like, 
sitting"  here,  one  is  often  reminded  of  the 
sea.  For  not  only  do  long-  ground-swells 
roll  the  slanting  grain,  and  httle  wavelets 
of  the  grass  ripple  over  upon  the  low 
piazza,  as  their  beach,  and  the  blown  down 
of  dandelions  is  wafted  like  the  spray,  and 
th.e  purple  of  the  mountains  is  just  the 
])urple  of  the  billows,  and  a  still  August 
noon  broods  upon  the  deep  meadows,  as 
a  calm  upon  the  Line :  but  the  vastness 
and  the  loneso-meness  are  so  oceanic,  and 
the  silence  and  the  sameness,  too,  that  the 
first  peep  of  a  strange  house,  rising  be- 
vond  the  trees,  is  for  all  the  world  like  spying,  on  the  Barbai*y  coast,  an 
unknown  sail." — From  "  The  P{a::::a,"  one  of  "  The  Piazza  Tales,"  by 
Heniian  Mehille. 


\\'illiam   Cullen   Bryant. 


The  Berkshire  hills  and  vales  \\ere  ever  a  favorite  resort  of  poets. 
A\'ilham  Cullen  Bryant,  in  his  young  manhood,  resided  in  Great  Bar- 
rington,  where  he  was  town  clerk  for  several  years  and  practiced  law. 
But  he  frequently  turned  aside  to  the  fields  and  streams  to  indulge  his 
poetic  fancies,  as  lie  de])icts  in  his  poem  on  "  Green  River  '' : 


"  That  fairy  music  I  never  hear, 

Nor  gaze  on  those  waters  so  green  and  clear. 

And  mark  them  winding  away  from  sight, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


57 


Darkened  with  shade  or  flashing  with  Hght, 
While  o'er  them  the  vine  to  its  thicket  cHngs, 
And  the  zephyr  stoops  to  freshen  his  wings, 
But  I  wnsh  that  fate  had  left  me  free 
To  wander  these  quiet  'haunts  wath  thee, 
Till  the  eating  cares  of  earth  should  depart, 
And  the  peace  of  the  scene  pass  into  my  heart ; 
And  T  envy  thy  stream  as  it  glides  along 
Through  its  beautiful  banks  in  a  trance  of  song." 


In  "  The  Bryant  House/'  where  he  re- 
sided, he  wrote  much  of  his  choicest  verse, 
including  "  The  Indian  at  the  Burial  Place 
of  His  Fathers." 

Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow  and  his 
bride,  Miss  Frances  Appleton,  visited  Pitts- 
field  w^hile  on  their  bridal  tour,  and  passed 
several  successive  summers  there.  They 
made  their  stay  in  the  house  on  East  street, 
now  the  home  of  the  Plunkett  family,  which  w^as  then  the  country 
home  of  Mrs.  Longfellow''s  father,  Hon.  Nathan  Appleton,  of  Boston. 
There  the  ^Doet  found  that  which  gave  him  inspiration  for  one  of  his 
most  pathetic  poetic  musings — "  The  Old  Clock  on  the  Stairs  " — 


Henry  W.   Longfellow. 


"  By  day  its  voice  is  low  and  light; 
But  in  the  silent  dead  of  night. 
Distinct  as  a  passing  footstep's  fall. 
It  echoes  along  the  vacant  hall, 
Along  the  ceiling,  along  the  floor, 
And  seems  to  say  at  each  chamber-door,- 

Forever — never ! 

Never — forever !  " 


There,  also  he  wrote  "  Evangeline,"  "  The  Belfry  at  Bruges,"  and  sev- 
eral minor  poems. 


58 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  poet,  essayist,  novelist  and  philosopher, 
passed  what  he  termed  "  seven  hlessed  summers  "  on  the  old  Lenox 
road,  about  two  miles  from  the  park  at  Pittsfield.     In  his  novel,  "  Elsie 

Venner,"  it  is  believed  he  pictured  vari- 
ous bits  of  neighborhood  scenerv^  and 
more  than  one  well  known  local  charac- 
ter. Here  he  also  wrote  several  of  his 
most  widely  known  and  generously 
praised  poems,  among  them  "  Dedication 
of  the  Pittsfield  Cemetery."  and  "  The 
Ploughman."  The  latter  he  read  at  the 
anniversary  of  the  Berkshire  Agricultural 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes.  Society  on  October  4,  1849.     I^  contained 

the  following  stanza,  v/orthy  of  Cowper  or  Gray : 


"  O  gracious  Mother,  whose  benignant  breast 
Wakes  us  to  life,  and  lulls  us  all  to  rest. 
How  thy  sweet  features,  kind  to  every  clime, 
Mock  with  their  smile  the  wrinkled  front  of  time! 
We  stain  thy  flowers — they  blossom  o'er  the  dead; 
We  rend  thy  bosom,  and  it  gives  us  bread; 
O'er  the  red  field  that  trampling  strife  has  torn. 
Waves  the  green  plumage  of  thy  tasselled  corn ; 
Our  maddening  conflicts  scar  thy  fairest  plain, 
Still  thy  soft  answer  is  the  growing  grain. 
Yet,  O  our  Mother,  while  uncounted  charms 
Steal  round  our  hearts  in  thine  embracing  arms. 
Let  not  our  virtues  in  thy  love  decay, 
And  thy  fond  sweetness  waste  our  strength  away." 


A  pathetic  interest  attaches  to  the  residence  in  Berkshire  county 
of  Rose  (Terry)  Cooke,  the  gifted  poet  and  stoi*y  writer.  Her  ad- 
miration  for  the  beauties  of  the  region  was  intense,  and  shortly  after 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  59 

her  marriage  to  Kollm  Hillyer  Cooke  she  prevailed  upon  him  to  estab- 
hsh  their  home  in  Pittstield.  There  the  pair  performed  their  most  meri- 
torious and  useful  work — he  in  his  historical  and  genealogical  investi- 
gations and  writings;  she  in  the  production  of  some  of  her  most  charm- 
ing volumes,  with  their  faithful  and  attractive  portraiture  of  rural  New 
England  life  and  character,  and  the  collation  of  her  complete  poetical 
writings.  Her  j^laintive  poem  on  "  The  Two  Villages  "  might  well 
stand  as  a  requiem  for  both  herself  and  her  husliand  : 

"■  Over  th.e  ri\-er,  on  the  hill, 
Lieth  a  ^■illage.  white  and  still; 
All  around  it  the  forest  trees 
Shiver  and  whisper  in  the  breeze, 
Over  it  sailing  shadows  go 
Of  soaring  hawk  and  screaming  crow, 
And  mountain  grasses,  low  and  sweet. 
Grow  in  the  middle  of  every  street. 

"  Over  the  ri\er,  under  the  hill. 
Another  village  lieth  still ; 
There  I  see  in  the  cloudy  night 
Twinkling  stars  of  household  light. 
Fires  that  gleam  from  the  smithy's  door, 
Mists  that  curl  on  the  river  shore; 
And  in  the  roads  no  grasses  grow. 
For  the  wheels  that  hasten  to  and  fro. 

"  In  that  village  on  the  hill 

Never  is  sound  of  smithy  or  mill ; 

The  houses  are  thatched  with  grass  and  flowers ; 

Never  a  clock  to  tell  the  hours ; 

The  marble  doors  are  always  shut. 

You  cannot  enter  in  hall  or  hut ; 

All  the  villagers  lie  asleep; 

Ne^^er  a  grain  to  sow  or  reap ; 

Never  in  dreams  to  moan  or  sigh ; 

Silent  and  idle  and  low  thev  lie. 


60  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

"  111  that  village  under  the  hill. 
When  the  night  is  starry  and  still, 
Many  a  weary  soul  in  prayer 
Looks  to  the  other  village  there. 
And  weeping  and  sighing,  longs  to  go 
Up  to  that  home  from  this  below ; 
Longs  to  sleep  in  the  forest  wild. 
Whither  have  vanished  wife  and  child. 
And  heareth,  praying,  his  answer  fall : 
'  Patience!  that  village  shall  hold  ye  all. 


Berkshire   Historical  and  Scientific   Society. 

This  society  had  its  origin  in  a  meeting  held  at  the  Berkshire 
Athenaeum,  January  21,  1878,  at  which  were  present  Ensign  H.  Kel- 
logg, who  presided;  Henry  W.  Taft,  William  R.  Plunkett,  Henry  L. 
Dawes,  James  M.  Barker,  James  W.  Hull,  Thomas  P.  Pingree,  J.  E. 
A.  Smith,  Robert  W.  Adam,  John  P.  Brown,  Dr.  J.  F.  A.  Adams,  and 
E.  G.  LIubbell,  curator  and  librarian  of  the  Athenaeum.  At  this  meet- 
ing the  purpose  was  expressed  of  forming  "  a  society  for  increasing  an 
interest  in  archaeological  science,  to  rescue  from  oblivion  such  historical 
matter  as  might  otherwise  be  lost,"  and  to  promote  a  knowledge  of 
natural  science. 

A  further  meeting  was  held  on  February  22d  following,  at  which 
were  present  the  gentlemen  before  named,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  others,  a  general  invitation  having  been  extended  to  all  citizens  of 
Berkshire  county  who  were  in  sympathy  with  the  objects  expressed  at 
the  initial  conference.  At  this  meeting  thirty-two  persons  were  en- 
rolled as  members,  a  constitution  was  adopted,  and  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected :  Alexander  Hyde,  of  Lee,  president ;  Joseph  White, 
of  Williamstown,  and  James  M.   Barker,  of  Pittsfield,   vice-presidents; 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  61 

E.  .G.  Hubbell  of  Pittsfield.  secretary:  Henry  W.  Taft.  William,  R. 
Plnnkett.  of  PittsfieVl,  and  Charles  J.  Taylor,  of  Great  Barrington, 
executive  committee. 

At  a  siibsecjiient  meeting  the  use  of  the  Athenaeum  was  granted 
by  its  trustees  to  the  society  for  holding  meetings,  and  as  a  place  of 
deposit  for  valuable  documents,  specimens,  relics,  etc.  From  the  first 
the  society  has  been  highly  successful  in  its  work,  having  had  in  its 
membership,  from  its  founding  to  the  present  day,  a  large  proportion 
of  the  most  scholarly  and  enthusiastic  ]ieo])le  of  the  county,  male  and 
female,  who  have  labored  with  commendable  zeal  for  the  promotion 
of  the  objects  for  which  it  was  establislied.  It  is  here  pertinent  to 
obsen^e  that  Berkshire  was  the  last  county  in  the  state  to  be  organized, 
and  its  peopling  was  one  hundred  years  later  than  that  of  the  Connecti- 
cut Valley.  Yet  it  possesses  a  most  interestin.g-  history,  and  is  making 
history  daily.  The  work  of  the  society  has  been  most  valuable  in  record- 
ing for  future  generations  much  that,  but  for  its  existence  and  accom- 
plishments, would  be  irretrievably  lost. 

The  society  holds  regular  quarterly  meetings,  and,  besides,  an  an- 
nual field  meeting  in  the  sumn::er  season,  and  on  some  spot  of  historic 
interest  in  the  county.  At  these  meetings  \erv  man}-  al)le  and  interest- 
ing papers  on  historical  and  scientific  subjects  ha\e  been  presented  and 
discussions  held.  These  ha\e  been  preserved  in  the  "  Collections  of 
the  Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  Societv,"  whicli  is  a  welcome 
visitor  to  the  leading  libraries  and  historical  and  antiquarian  societies 
of  the  country.  The  first  paper  printed  was  by  Professor  Perry,  of 
W'illiamstown,  on  "  The  Battle  of  Bennington."  Professor  Perrv  was 
for  many  years  president  of  the  society,  and  took  great  interest  in  its 
work.  1  he  writers  on  scientific  topics  have  inchuled  such  widelv  known 
authorities  as   Professor  Dana,   of  "^'ale  Ccjllege,   who   wrote  on  "  The 


62 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


Formation  of  Greylock  Mountain,"  anrl  other  interesting  subjects.  "  The 
Juchcial  History  of  the  County,"  "  Tnchan  Missions  at  Stockbridge,"  and 
"  Shay's  RebelHon,"  are  among  the  subjects  treated  of  l)y  members  who 
had  made  careful  study  of  their  subjects.  Among  the  scientific  papers 
the  botany  and  geology  of  the  county  have  been  carefully  treated.  In 
the  archives  of  the  society  are  histories  of  Ihe  manufactures  of  the 
county — paper,  glass,  woolens,  etc.. — and  biographies  of  Parson  Allen, 
Jonathan  Edwards,  Theodore  Sedgwick,  John  Chandler  Williams  and 
others  are  preserved  for  future  investigators.  The  scientific  department 
was  thoroughly  developed  by  the  present  secretary,  Harlan  H.  Ballard, 
whose  re]>utation  as  president  of  the  Agassiz  Association  has  extended 
throughout  the  countr}-. 

The  present  ofiicers  of  the  societv  are:  Joseph  E.  Peirson,  president; 
E.  H.  Robbins,  vice-president ;  Harlan  H.  Ballard,  secretary ;  W.  G. 
Harding,  assistant  secretary;  Rev.  R.  D.  W.  Mallory,  T.  Nelson  Dale 
and  Rev.  C.  J.  Palmer,  executive  committee.  The  following  is  the 
membership  roll  of  the  society;  address.  Pittsfield,  unless  otherwise 
civen  : 


W.  R.  Allen. 

Theo.  L.  Allen. 

Edgar  D.  Aldrich,  Dalton. 

R.  W.  Adam. 

W.  L.  Adam. 

O.  A.  Archer,  Blackinton. 

Dr.  J.  E.  A.  Adams. 

Prof.  John  Bascom,  Williamstown. 

Henry  W.  Bishop,  164  Rush  street. 

Chicago. 
Henry  A.  Brewster. 
Miss  E.  E.  Brewster. 
O.  C.  Bidwell,  Great  Barrington. 
E.  Burlingame,  Adams. 
J.  H.  Burghart,  Stockbridge. 


Dr.  B.  O.  Barber,  Pownal,  Vt. 

Judge  H.  H.  Bixby,  Adams. 

J.  L.  Barker,  Adams. 

L.  L.  Barnes,  Canaan,  Conn. 

Henry  A.  Barton,  Dalton. 

L.  W.  Brayton,  North  Adams. 

Miss  Ella  S.  Brown,  Dalton. 

H.  W.  Bowen,  Adams. 

Mrs.  S.  W.  Brown,  Cheshire. 

Mrs.  J.  S.  Bracken. 

H.  C.  Bowen,  Cheshire. 

H.  W.  Brock,  Adams. 

G.  W.  Bliss,  Cheshire. 

D.  M.  Collins. 

Dr.  Henrv  Colt. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


63 


Mrs.  Frank  Colt. 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Campbell. 
Zenas  Crane,  Dalton. 
Fred  G.  Crane,  Dalton. 
Hon.  W.  Alurray  Crane.  Dalton. 
Miss  M.  E.  Crane,  Dalton. 
Clinton  W.  Curtiss. 
C.  K.  Collins.  Great  Barrington. 
A.  W.  Curtis.  Sheffield. 
Mrs.  James  D.  Colt. 
W.  D.  Curtis,  Lenox. 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Cooley. 
L.  A.  Cole,  Cheshire. 
Miss  Annie  B.  Clapp. 
Rev.  Silas  P.  Cook. 
A.  B.  Clark,  Lee. 

H.  H.  Dyer,  223  Washington  St., 
Boston. 

Miss  S.  Jane  Dean.  Adams. 

Mrs.  Anna  Dunbar. 

R.  B.  Dickie.  Dalton. 

John  A.  Duggan,  North  Adams. 

Mrs.  John  H'.  Fells. 

J.  W.  Ferry,  Lee. 

L  D.  Ferrey. 

L.  J.  Fisk,  Cheshire. 

Arthur  Follett.  Adams. 

Mrs.  James  H.  Francis. 

C.  C.  Gamwell. 

\\\  A.  Gallui>.  North  Adams. 

T.  B.  Gale.  Williamstown. 

W.  D.  Goodwin. 

Miss  Anna  K.  Green,  Adams. 

W.  B.  Green,  Adams. 

AA".  G.  Harding. 

Tames  H.  Hinsdale. 

James  W.  Hull. 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Huntting. 

T.  Hooper  Durham.  Centre,  Conn. 

"W.     Harrison.     Lebanon     Springs. 
N.  Y. 

C.  W.  Kniffen.  \\'est  Stockbridge. 

D.  .\.  Kimball.  Stf^ckbridge. 


C.  W.  Kellogg. 

H.  F.  Keith.  Mount  Washington. 
L.  S.  Kellogg.  South  Lee. 
Dr.    Orville   L.    Lane.    Great    Bar- 
rington. 

Mrs.    Mary   H.    Lane.    Great   Bar- 
rington. 

Dr.  W.  W.  Lea\itt. 

Rali>h  Little.  Sheffield. 

J.  Ward  Lewis. 

Rev.      Arthur     Lawrence,      Stock- 
bridge. 

W.  C.  Lane,  Harvard  College  Li- 
brary, Cambridge. 

Dr.  W.  M.  Mercer. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Miller,  Sheffield. 

F.  E.  Merchant.  Adams. 

J.  H.  Manning. 

James  Magenis.  Adams. 

C.  W.  Miller,  Adams. 

Charles  A.  Mills. 

Hon.  L.  E.  Munson,  New  Haven. 
Conn. 

Rev.  T.  W.  Nickerson. 

Mrs.  T.  W.  Nickerson. 

Mrs.  C.  D.  Nichols.  302  C  street, 
N.  \\\.  Washington.  D.  C. 

E.  H.  Nash. 

William  Nugent. 

Mrs.   F.    C.    Parker.   4  W.   School 
street.  Westfield. 

J.  E.  Parsons.  Trinity  Bldg..  New- 
York  Citv. 

W.  M.  Prince. 

J.  C.  Partridge. 

G.  T.  Plunkett.  Hinsdale. 

Don  M.  Peck. 

Mrs.  Don  M.  Peck. 

C.  Ouackenbush.  Hoosac.  N.  Y. 

C.  S.  Rackemann.  39  Court  street. 
Boston. 

Mrs.  C.  B.  Redfield. 

W.  B.  Rice. 


64: 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


Mrs.  F.  W.  Rockwell. 

Miss  Dora  Radio,  9  Cherry  street, 

North  Adams. 
E.  H.  Robbins. 
Dr.  O.  S.  Roberts. 
H.  T.  Robbins,  Great  Barrington. 
Robert  C.  Rockwell. 
H.  S.  Russell. 
Mrs.  S.  S.  Roys,  Sheffield. 
Mrs.  E.  H.  Robbins. 
George  Wiley  Roberts,  Le^ 
Wellington  Smith,  Lee. 
N.  H.  Sabin,  Williamstown. 
Mrs.  L.  W.  Streeter,  Adams. 
George  Shipton. 
Hon.  E.  T.  Slocum. 
Mrs.  Seraph  H.  Stevenson. 
Dr.  H.  H.  Smith,  Lee. 
John  M.  Stevenson. 


Gen.  Morris  Schaff,  Boston. 
Mrs.  S.  M.  Smith. 
W.  P.  Small,  Sheffield. 
Mrs.  Clarence  L.  Sherman,  Adams. 
Mrs.  Louise  P.  Shedd. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Seaver. 
Hon.  Joseph  Tucker. 
Mrs.  Daniel  Upton,  Adams. 
Marshall  Wilcox. 
Miss  Maria  R.  Warriner. 
F.  H.  Wright,  Great  Barrington. 
W.  A.  Whittlesey. 
Henry  C.  Warner,  Great  Barring- 
ton. 
Mrs.  Charles  E.  West. 
Rev.  A.  B.  Whipple. 
Mrs.  Wm.  P.  Wood. 
Dr.  D.  M.  Wilcox,  Lee. 
Mrs.  Dr.  W.  H.  Wentworth. 


Berkshire  Athenaeum  and  Museum. 

The  trustees  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum  were  organized  as  a  cor- 
poration on  May  13,  1872,  under  a  charter  granted  in  the  preceding 
year,  that  instrument  reciting  its  purpose  to  be  "  establishing  and  main- 
taining in  the  town  of  Pittsfield  an  institution  to  aid  in  promoting  edu- 
cation, culture  and  refinement,  and  diffusing  knowledge  by  means  of  a 
library,  reading  rooms,  lectures,  museums  and  cabinets  of  art,  and  of 
historical  and  natural  curiosities."  Power  was  also  granted  to  the  town 
to  appropriate  money  toward  the  support  of  the  institution  so  long  as 
it  maintained  a  free  library  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants.  It  succeeded 
ihe  Pittsfield  Athenaeum,  and  took  over  its  well  selected  collection  of 
books,  which  had  been  received  in  greater  part  from  the  Pittsfield  Li- 
brary Association,  a  proprietary  organization  established  in  1850.  Of 
the  original  trustees  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum  were  Thomas  Allen 


Berkshire  Athenseum. 


BERKSHIRE  COl^NTY  07 

and  Henry  L.  Dawes,  wlio  were  among  ils  most  acti\e  siij^porters  and 
liberal  benefactors. 

At  the  organization  of  the  corporation  a  deed  was  made  to  it  for 
a  tract  of  land  formerl\-  occupied  by  the  Agricultural  National  Bank, 
which  was  purchased  with  a  fund  to  which  Cahin  jMartin  had  con- 
tributed $5,000,  the  remainder  being  gi\'en  b\-  Thomas  Allen  and 
Thomas  F.  Plunkett.  The  corporation  also  received,  in  1869,  in  ac- 
cordance with  an  enactment  l)y  the  legislature,  the  library,  museum  and 
apparatus  of  the  Berkshire  Medical  College,  and  $4,400  from  the  trus- 
tees of  that  institution,  which,  after  a  long  and  useful  career,  though 
sadly  hampered  for  want  of  means,  had  gone  out  of  existence.  The 
latter  sum  of  money  was  paid  out  for  land  additional  to  that  pre\'iously 
conveyed.  In  1874  the  town  of  Pittsfield  appropriated  $24,000  for  the 
purchase  of  additional  land  and  for  the  pa}ment  of  certain  mortgages 
on  that  already  in  its  possession,  and  $22,400  was  devoted  to  that  pur- 
pose. Thomas  Allen  then  proceeded  to  the  erection  of  the  Athenaeum 
building,  upon  the  condition  that  the  town  would  contribute  to  the 
support  of  the  free  public  library  maintained  by  the  trustees,  an  obli- 
gation which  has  l^een  religiously  carried  out  to  the  present  time. 

The  Athenaeum  building  pro\ided  by  Air.  Allen  having  served  its 
pur]wses  for  a  period  of  twenty-one  years,  from  the  accretions  to  the 
library  came  to  be  no  longer  adequate  for  the  proper  storing  of  the 
books  and  for  such  an  administration  of  the  library  as  was  demanded 
by  its  increasing  use  by  the  people  of  Pittsfield.  This  fact  was  called 
to  public  attention  by  the  president  in  1890,  and  resulted  in  the  com- 
pletion of  an  addition  in  1897,  at  a  cost  for  land  and  building  of  about 
$50,000,  and  which  will  for  a  long  time  aftord  all  suhicicnt  accommo- 
dation. Among  the  benefactors  of  the  Athenaeum  were  Phinehas  Allen, 
who  died  in   1873,  who  made  a  bequest  amcjunting  to  $91,525.92.     In 


68  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


re 


-cataloguing,  rearranging  and  adding  to  tlie  Library  and  Art  Gal- 
lery, $10,000  was  expended  in  1883,  and  this  amount,  as  well  as  the 
cost  of  the  new  addition  to  the  Library  building  and  repairs  upon  the 
old  one,  was  taken  from  this  fund.  Since  189T  the  income  from  the 
remainder  has  been  applied  to  the  current  expense  account. 

Bradford  Allen,  son  of  Hon.  Thomas  Allen,  bequeathed  to  the 
corporation  the  sum  of  fi\'e  thousand  dollars,  the  income  to  be  applied 
to  the  purchase  of  works  of  art.  The  most  notaljle  purchases  made 
from  this  fund  have  been  "  Mid  Ocean,"  by  Woodbury,  and  a  copy  of 
the  Sistine  Madonna  by  Bardi,  of  Naples.  Li  1880  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Campbell  Clapp  gave  to  the  trustees  $1,000  to  be  expended  in  the  piu"- 
chase  of  books.  Her  death  occurred  the  same  year,  and  she  left  a 
further  sum  of  $4,000,  the  income  to  be  expended  annually  for  books. 
Prior  to  her  death  in  189 1,  Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Newton  made  a  bequest 
of  a  valuable  collection  of  paintings,  engravings  and  books,  many  of 
the  former  having  been  purchased  in  1835  in  London,  England,  by  her 
father,  Hon.  Edward  A.  Newton.  From  Mr.  Justice  Oliver  Wendell 
Holmes  the  library  received  about  one  thousand  volumes  from  the  library 
of  his  namesake  father,  the  beloved  "  Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table," 
who  during  his  lifetime  maintained  his  interest  in  Pittsfield,  his  grand- 
father, Jacob  Wendell,  having  been  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
the  township,  and  it  was  for  a  number  of  years  his  own  place  of  sum- 
mer residence.  These  books  are  appropriately  marked  with  Dr.  Holmes' 
own  bookplate.  Li  1903  Hon.  Zenas  Crane,  of  Dalton,  presented  the 
fine  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  Art,  located  on  land  contiguous 
to  the  Athenaeum,  the  property  and  its  contents  representing  a  value  of 
more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  benefaction  grew  out 
of  the  donor's  conviction  that  the  similarity  of  the  purposes  of  the 
Athenaeum  and  the  Museum  pointed  to  the  desirability  of  their  being 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  <59 

united  under  one  management.  The  name  of  the  corporation  was  ac- 
cordingly changed  to  that  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum  and  Museum, 
and  additional  trustees  were  pro\'ided  for.  With  reference  to  this  union 
Mr.  F.  M.  Cruden  wrote  as  follows  in  Tlic  Outlook: 


"  It  would  be  ungracious  not  to  acknowledge  the  appreciation  of 
the  trustees,  in  which  they  are  confident  the  entire  community  shares, 
of  the  fine  gift  from  the  Hon.  Zenas  Crane,  of  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History  and  Art,  with  its  admirably  selected  works  of  art,  specimens 
of  natural  history  and  objects  of  curiosity  and  interest.  Its  reception 
bv  the  public  has  been  cordial  and  enthusiastic,  and  the  praise  of  it 
has  been  universal.  It  will  long  continue  to  be  an  object  of  pride  to 
the  citizens  of  this  county,  a  wise  contribution  to  education  in  art  and 
natiu'al  history,  and  an  incentive  to  the  high  citizenship  that  is  helpful 
in  promoting  institutions  that  are  educational  and  uplifting." 


The  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  :\rt  is  located  in  South 
street,  a  few  rods  from  the  Pittsfield  Park,  where  stands,  as  Pittsfield's 
soldiers'  monument,  the  Launt  Thompson  heroic  bronze  statue  of  "  The 
Color  Bearer."  and  near  where  flourished  and  faded  the  Old  Elm.  fa- 
mous in  history,  its  place  novx-  marked  by  the  sun  dial  set  up  in  1903 
by  the  Patriotic  Order  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 
Adjoining  is  the  massive  Athenaeum  edifice,  one  of  the  princi[)al  archi- 
tectural ornameiits  of  the  city.  The  Museum  building  is  constructed 
of  gra}-  limestcnie  and  gray  Roman  1)rick,  in  the  Italian  renaissance 
style  of  architecture.  The  extericjr  is  severe  in  design,  and  depends  for 
its  architectural  effect  ui>on  its  extreme  sinijilicily,  refinement,  and  care- 
fully studied  pr()|><)rtions. 

Jn  this  building  have  been  assembled  works  of  art  representing 
both  ancient  and  modern  schools,  examples  of  statuar}'  from  casts  of 
famous  works:  samples  t)i  |)ro(luctions  in  bronze  and  ])ottery.  and  cu- 
rious specimens  (jf  ancient  glass,  chiy  and  the  metals,  in  decorative  de- 


70  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

signs,  ill  coins  and  jewelry,  in  articles  for  nse  and  ornament,  some  of 
them  but  crude  attempts,  yet  possessing  a  Ijeauty  and  interest  of  much 
\'alue  as  representing-  the  progress  made  from  the  days  of  old  to  the 
present  perfection  of  productions  in  art  and  the  trades. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  exhibits  of  the  Archaeological 
Department  is  a  model  of  what  is  knoAvn  as  the  black  obelisk  of  Shal- 
maneser  II,  who  ruled  the  Assyrian  empire,  858  to  823  B.  C,  and  which 
was  found  overthrown  under  the  debris  covering  the  palace  of  Shal- 
maneser,  among'  the  extensive  ruins  at  Nimroud,  identifiecl  by  Sir  Henry 
Rawlinsou  and  others  as  Calah,  and  situated  about  thirty  miles  below 
Nineveh,  on  the  Tigris.  In  the  same  department  are  thirty-four  clay 
tablets  with  cuneiform  inscriptions,  representing  an  empire  earlier  than 
that  of  the  Assvrians — tlie  Chaldaean,  or  First  Babylonian.  There  is 
also  a  replica  of  the  famous  Rosetta  stone,  the  original  of  which  is  in 
the  British  Museum,  and  which  has  proven  to  be  practically  the  key 
to  the  great  temple  of  knowledge  of  ancient  Egypt,  its  two  inscriptions 
in  Egyptian  (B.  C.  195,  205-181)  representing  different  periods,  and 
first  introducing  Egyptologists  tO'  an  accjuaintance  with  the  language 
of  the  Pharaohs. 

The  collection  of  Greek  and  Roman  curios,  useful  and  ornamental, 
is  replete  with  fine  specimens,  and  includes  one  case  of  sixty-five  glass 
vases  of  the  third  and  second  centuries  before  Christ,  of  unicjue  beauty, 
many  of  them  carrying  the  opalescence  of  rare  gems,  and  others  pre- 
senting the  scale  of  the  rainbow.  There  are  also  Greek  and  Roman 
gold  ornaments  of  the  fourth  and  third  centuries  B.  C. ;  specimens  of 
Greek  and  Roman  bronze  \'ases  and  implements  of  the  fourth  to  the 
second  centin-ies  B.  C. ;  and  a  collection  of  Egyptian,  Greek  and  Roman 
beads,  coins,  etc.,  of  great  antiquity.     Other  objects  of  beauty  and  inter- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  71 

est  are  Phoenician  and  Chinese  curios,  and  a  rare  array  of  rehcs  of  the 
Indians  of  North  America. 

Besides  the  statuary  in  the  entrance  hall,  there  are  three  pieces  of 
splendid  sculpture  in  the  Museum — the  Discobolus,  of  Myron,  about 
the  fifth  century ;  St.  George,  the  slayer  of  the  Dragon,  by  Donatell(\ 
1 386- 1466;  and  the  \\'restlers,  a  well  knoAvn  Greek  group.  The  Natu- 
ral History  Department  has  for  its  principal  adornments  a  series  of 
Berkshire  mineral  specimens,  collected  and  presented  by  Daniel  Clark, 
of  Tyring-ham ;  a  collection  of  marine  curiosities,  including  beautiful 
algae;  and  a  hortus  siccus  of  plants  and  ferns  collected  by  members  of 
the  Agassiz  Association.  A  representati\'e  collection  of  birds  is  of  pecu- 
liar interest  and  beauty. 

The  officers  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum  and  Museum  for  1904-5 
are  as  follows:  President,  W.  R.  Allen;  Vice-President,  James  M. 
Barker;  Treasurer,  George  H.  Tucker;  Librarian  and  Clerk,  Harlan  H. 
Ballard;  Auditor,  Henrv  Colt.  Investigating  Committee — President, 
Treasurer,  Auditor  [cx-officio),  C.  W.  Kellogg  and  I.  D.  Kerrey.  Li- 
brary Committee — Dr.  Henry  Colt,  Walter  Hawkins,  Dr.  J.  F.  A. 
Adams.  Art  and  Museum  Committee — C.  W".  Kellogg,  I.  D.  Ferrey, 
George  Harding.  Trustees — Morris  Schaff,  Wibiam  ]\1.  Mercer,  Henry 
W.  Taft,  Walter  Cutting,  Hairy  D.  Sisson,  Joseph  Tucker.  W'm.  E. 
Tillotson,  Erwin  H.  Kennedy,  Henry  R.  Peirson,  Henry  A.  Francis, 
Theo.  L.  Pomeroy,   fames  L.  Bacon,   John  C.  Crosby. 


The  Agassiz  Associ.mion. 

Perhaps  no  ^vork  originating  in  Berkshire  county  has  been  more 
widely  instructive  and  beneficial  than  that  inaugurated  l\y  the  Agassiz 
Association.     It  v^^as  an  earnest  desire  of  the  distinguished  naturalist, 


72  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Louis  Ag'assiz  (whose  last  work  was  the  estabhshment  of  a  School  of 
Natural  History  on  the  island  of  Penikese.  Rhode  Island),  that  socie- 
ties should  be  formed  in  towns  for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  district 
for  a  radius  of  five  or  ten  miles.  It  is  probable  that  this  desire  found 
root  in  some  considerable  degree  from  his  knowledge  of  the  natural 
beauties  of  the  Berkshires,  with  which  region  he  became  familiar  while 
a  professor  at  Harvard  College.  It  was  full  of  interest  to  students  of 
nature ;  its  geological  structure  had  for  many  years  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  eminent  scientists;  its  flora  found  high  appreciation  for  its  rich- 
ness and  \arietv ;  and  it  was  alive  with  birds  of  most  numerous  species 
for  tb.e  extent  of  its  territory. 

In  the  desire  to^  realize  in  some  degree  the  views  of  Professor 
Agassiz,  in  1875  Harlan  PI.  Ballard  effected  the  organization  of  the 
Lenox  High  School  Association,  its  membership  made  up  from  among 
his  pupils.  The  members  entered  upon  their  investigations  with  genu- 
ine enthusiasm,  and  in  many  of  their  excursions  came  upon  a  flower  or 
a  vein  of  quartz  crystals  quite  out  of  the  ordinary.  In  1880  the  name 
of  the  society  was  changed  to  the  Agassiz  Association,  and  it  was  incor- 
porated with  an  efficient  directory.  In  the  same  year  the  association 
published  a  report  of  its  work,  and  a  general  invitation  was  extended 
to  all  who  might  feel  interest,  to  form  local  clubs  and  unite  with  the 
association,  for  the  interchange  of  scientific  information,  exchange  of 
specimens,  etc.  The  association  now  numbers  some  ten  thousand  mem- 
bers, grouped  in  about  one  thousand  chapters. 

In  1893  the  Agassiz  Association  made  an  exhibition  at  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  in  Chicago,  the  exhibit  comprising  specimens 
collected  by  various  chapters,  prepared  collections  of  minerals,  photo- 
graphs, courses  of  study,  and  a  quantity  of  literature  fully  setting  forth 
the  work  performed  by  the  association.     The  exhibits  of  the  association 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  73 

have  l>een  gixen  place  in  the  rooms  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum,  whose 
hbrarian  and  curator  is  Harlan  H.  Ballard,  president  of  the  Agassiz 
Association. 

How  fertile  a  field  is  Berkshire  county  for  such  investigations  is 
evidenced  by  a  citation  from  the  illustrated  catalogue  pamphlet  issued 
by  the  Athenaeum  authorities  in  1904,  with  reference  to  the  ornitho- 
logical display  in  the  Museum.  This  recites  the  interesting  fact  that 
during  the  months  of  May  and  June  there  is  in  the  eastern  United 
States  no  better  place  to  study  bird  life  than  on  the  grounds  of  the 
Pittsfield  Country  Club.  From  the  club  house,  almost  any  morning 
in  mid-May,  can  be  identified  by  sight  or  hearing  at  least  twenty-five 
species  of  birds.  Du.ring  a  three  hours  stroll  through  the  grounds, 
on  May  14,  1904,  fifty-one  species  were  recognized,  while  in  one  single 
minute  the  notes  of  no  less  than  nine  different  species  were  heard. 
According  to  Ralph  HofTman.  of  the  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
species  of  birds  that  inhabit  the  highways,  water-courses,  fields  and 
forests  of  Berkshire,  about  ninety  are  residential,  remaining  during  the 
entire  year.  Of  "  cottagers,"  to  use  a  local  term,  there  are  sixteen 
species.  These  spend  the  winter  in  the  south,  some  as  far  away  as 
Central  or  South  America,  returning  in  the  spring  to  build  their  nests 
and  rear  their  broods.  Then  there  are  the  "  transients."  that  winter 
either  in  the  north  or  south,  and  are  only  seen  as  they  pass  over  in  their 
migrations.  All  these  many  and  interesting  species  are  displayed  in 
the  ornithological  dejiartment  of  the  Museum. 


Fort  Ma.ssachusetts  Historical  Society. 

The   Fort  Massachusetts  Historical   Society  grew  primarily  out  of 
the    effort    of    ^Irs.    Tennie    Paul    Ciondrich,    and    tlie   ladies    whom    she 


7i  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

associated  with  lierself  for  the  patriotic  purpose  of  preserving  tlie  identity 
of  the  site  of  the  famous  old  stockade  known  as  Fort  Massachusetts, 
buih  in  T745,  and  destroyed  by  the  French  and  Indians  in  August, 
1746,  and  afterwards  rebuik.  The  site  is  about  one  and  a  quarter  miles 
west  of  the  centre  of  the  city  of  North  Adams,  and  its  only  marker  for 
many  years  was  "  The  Perry  Elm,"  a  tree  planted  in  1857,  near  where 
stood  the  northeast  corner  of  the  stockade,  by  Proifessor  Arthur  Perry, 
of  Williams  College,  assisted  by  students  of  that  institution.  This  is 
now  a  large  and  flourishing  tree. 

Some  years  ago-  the  owner  of  the  land  including  the  stockade  site 
purposed  di^iding  the  tract  into-  building  sites,  and  Mrs.  Goodrich's 
proposal  to  purchase  that  portion  wdiich  was  of  historic  worth  met  with 
a  cordial  response  from  the  women  of  North  Adams.  In  order  to-  pro- 
cure means  for  their  purpose,  they  obtained  the  use  of  the  Hoosac  Val- 
ley Ncii'S,  through  the  generous  cooperation  of  its  proprietor,  Edward 
A.  McMillin,  and  put  out  a  special  issue  of  that  paper  on  November  23, 
1895,  comprising"  twenty-four  pages,  and  of  which  five  thousand  copies 
were  printed.  All  the  lalx)r  upon  this  issue,  except  that  purely  me- 
chanical, was  performed  by  the  women  who-  had  lent  themselves  to  this 
praiseworthy  task,  and  women  alone  contributed  to  its  columns,  their 
essays  and  other  writings  ]jresenting-  a  most  meritorious  array  of  orig- 
inal work ;  while  they  also  secured  through  their  own  efforts  a,  very  large 
advertising  patronage.  This  venture  brought  to  its  authors  a  sum  of 
thirteen  hundred  dollars,  wdiich  was  used  in  the  purchase  of  a  portion 
of  the  land  desired.  More  needed  to  be  obtained,  however,  and  to  accom- 
plish this  purpose  eighteen  persons,  representatives  of  the  older  fam- 
ilies of  North  Adams,  met  on  October  14,  1896,  in  St.  John's  Parish 
House,  to  perfect  the  organization  of  the  Fort  Massachusetts  His- 
torical  Societ},  a  charter  for  which  they  had  procured  January   i8th, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  75 

preceding.  .Xccnrdino-  to  the  terms  of  this  instrument  "  the  purpose  for 
which  this  corporation  is  formed  is  to  purcliase,  preserve  and  improve 
the  site  of  Fort  Massachusetts."  Accordingly  one  and  a  half  acres  were 
purchased,  covering  a  trifle  more  than  the  original  stockade  ground,  at 
an  outlay  of  three  thousand  dollars,  all  of  which  has  heen  liquidated 
except  about  four  hundred  dollars. 

In  1897  a  flagstaff  was  reared  upon  the  stockade  site  by  the  Societv. 
and  from  it  was  displayed  on  October  23d  of  that  year,  a  beautiful  na- 
tional flag,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Hiram  Sibley,  a  former  resident  of  North 
Adams.  The  flag  was  drawn  tO'  its  place  by  Professor  Lewis  Perry, 
of  Williams  College,  son  of  Professor  Arthur  Perr)-.  who  forty  years 
before  had  planted  the  commemorative  elm.  This  flag  has  since  been 
displayed  on  all  patriotic  occasions. 

The  intention  of  the  Society  is,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to^  erect  a 
permanent  monument  tO'  mark  the  historic  site  of  Fort  Massachusetts. 
What  form  this  \\ill  take  has  not  yet  been  decided,  luit  it  is  safe  to  as- 
sume that  it  will  l)e  in  every  manner  worthy  of  the  spot  and  of  the 
Society. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Houghton,  then  first  mayor  of  the  city  of  Xorth  Adams, 
in  1897  donated  to  the  city  a  building  for  a  public  library.  In  his  deed 
of  gift  he  reserved  two  rooms  for  the  use  of  the  b'ort  [Massachusetts 
Historical  Society.  In  these  rooms  are  contained  a  valuable  collection 
of  portraits  of  early  pioneers,  manuscripts,  maps,  prints,  engravings,  to- 
gether with  domestic  utensils,  weapons,  agricultural  implements,  and 
other  relics  of  the  pioneer  days,  all  possessing  peculiar  historical  inter- 
est, and  wliich  will  ha\e  an  ever  increasing  \alue  as  the  years  go  by. 
The  rooms  are  much  frequented  by  school  teachers  and  students  of 
the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  1)y  the  hundreds  of  tourists  who  visit  the 
Berkshires  during  the  summer  months. 


76  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

The  annual  meetings  of  the  Society  have  been  largely  educative 
to  the  public,  and  on  these  occasions  are  heard  speakers  of  high  ability 
and  wide  reputation.  At  the  October  meeting  in  1905  the  Society  dined 
at  the  Wellington,  two  hundred  persons  being  present.  Among  the 
speakers  were  Mr.  C  O.  Richmond,  toastmaster;  Judge  George  P. 
Lawrence;  F.  F.  Murdock,  principal  of  the  Normal  School;  Dr.  John 
Bascom,  of  the  Greylock  Reservation  Commission ;  and  Professor  Lewis 
Perry,  of  Williams  College. 

Tlie  original  officers  of  the  Society  were  as  follows:  S.  W.  Bray- 
ton,  since  deceased,  president;  Colonel  F.  S.  Richardson,  secretary; 
Mrs.  C.  O.  Richmond,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Jennie  Paul  Goodrich,  registrar. 
For  the  past  six  years  Dr.  John  Bascom  has  been  president;  and  the 
other  officers  are :  W.  Arthur  Gallup,  vice-president ;  Edward  A.  Mc- 
Millin,  secretary;  Mrs.  Hannah  B.  Richmond,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Jennie 
Paul  Goodrich,  registrar  and  custodian.  There  is  also  an  executive 
committee  consisting  of  Charles  H.  Cutting,  F.  W.  Wilcoxson,  C.  Q. 
Richmond,  Valmore  Whitaker,  Mrs.  Edward  W.  Blackinton,  Mrs.  S. 
W.  Brayton,  Mrs.  Mary  Hunter  Williams,  Miss  Angle  Blackinton. 


Sons  American  Revolution. 

Berkshire  County  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  was 
founded  through  the  action  of  a  meeting  held  in  Pittsfield,  April  15, 
1887,  ^s  a  result  of  which  a  committee  representing  every  town  in  the 
county  was  appointed  to  secure  members.  The  application  to  the  State 
.Society  for  a  charter  was  signed  by  thirty-one  citizens  of  Berkshire 
cou.nty,  and  the  charter  was  granted  April  19,  1889.  ^  constitution 
was  adopted  and  the  first  board  of  officers  elected  was  as  follows :  Wel- 
lington  Smith,    president;   John    M.    Stevenson,    A.   J.    McCulloch   and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  11 

Charles  H.  Evans,  vice-presidents:  Rollin  H.  Cooke,  secretarv  and 
registrar ;  Donelson  M.  Peck,  treasurer ;  J.  F.  L.  Adams,  historian ;  Rev. 
S.  L.  Rowland,  chaplain :  T.  W.  Richmond,  James  ^^^  Hull.  Keyes 
Danforth,  F.  J.  Barrett,  A.  T.  Treadway,  managers. 

The  Society  has  brought  about  the  placing  of  markers  at  the 
graves  of  many  re^•olutionar^■  soldiers  in  everv^  town  in  the  county,  hav- 
ing met  with  the  willing  cooperation  of  all  the  town  officials  concerned. 
The  Chapter  is  now  completing  a  laborious  task  well  begTin  by  Mr.  Rol- 
lin H.  Cooke  (and  whose  ambition  it  was  to  bring  it  to  completion,  a 
consummation  defeated  by  his  tragic  death),  the  compilation  of  a  record 
of  all  revolulionar}-  soldiers  from  Berkshire  county,  with  the  dates  of 
birth  and  death,  the  roll  being  intended  to  include  the  very  many  w'ho 
emigrated  to  other  states  after  the  revolution. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Chapter  are  as  follows :  Allen  H.  Bagg, 
president;  Edward  T.  Slocum,  James  H.  Punderson,  Roscoe  C.  Taft, 
vice-presidents;  Joseph  E.  Peirson.  secretary  and  registrar;  William  C. 
.Stevenson,  treasurer;  J.  F.  Alleyne  Adams,  historian;  Rev.  J.  E.  C. 
Sawyer,  chaplain ;  N.  H.  Sabin,  A.  J.  McCulloch,  H.  D.  Sisson,  John 
M.   Stevenson,  Edward  H.   Brewer,  board  of  managers. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  members : 

Adams,  J.  F.  Alleyne,  Pittsfield. 
Bagg,  Allen  H.,   Pittsfield. 
Barrett,  Frank  J.,  Lenox. 
Brewer,  Edward  H.,  Dalton. 
Brown,  Howard  P.,  Pittsfield. 
Brown,  W.  T.  Kendall,  Pittsfield. 
Bush,  Edw-ard  H.,  Dalton. 
Brooks,  Thomas  L.,  Pittsfield. 
Chapin,  Clifford  S.,  Great  Barrington. 
Clark,  Eliot  A.,  Pittsfield. 
Drowne,  Charles  N.,  Pittsfield. 
Evans,  Charles  H.,  Great  Barrington. 


78  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Gale,  Bennett  T.,  Lee. 
Hale,  Edward  P.,  Lenox. 
Hull,  James  W.,  Pittsfield. 
Joyner,  Frank  H.,  Pittsfield. 
Kellog-g,  Charles  W.,  Pittsfield. 
Kimball,  Daniel  A.,  Stockhridge. 
Lawrence,  Edgar  T.,  Pittsfield. 
Manning,  John  H.,  Pittsfield. 
McCulloch,  Almiron  J..  Savoy. 
Moore,  Marcus  T.,  Pittsfield. 
Peck,  Donelson  M.,  Pittsfield. 
Peirson,  Frank  E.,  Pittsfield. 
Peirson,  Joseph  E.,  Pittsfield. 
Punderson,  James  H.,  Stockliridge. 
Root,  Henry  A.,  Pittsfield. 
Sabin,  N.  Henry,  Williamstown. 
Sawyer.  J.  E.  C..  Williamstown. 
Sisson,  Harry  D..  Pittsfield. 
Slocnm,  Edward  T.,  Pittsfield. 
Smith,  Wellington,  Lee. 
Smith,  Augustus. R.,  Lee. 
Stevenson,  John  M.,  Pittsfield. 
Stevenson,  William  C,  Pittsfield. 
Taft,  Roscoe  C,  Egremont. 
Tread  way,  Allen  T.,  Stockhridge. 
Warner,  Milton  B.,  Pittsfield. 
Whittlesey.  William  A.,  Pittsfield. 


Daughters  American  Revolution. 

The  Peace  Party  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution, 
was  organized  February  5,  1897,  '^^'i^I''  twenty  charter  members,  through 
the  efforts  of  Mrs.  James  B.  Crane,  who  was  afterward  chosen  regent. 
The  name  of  the  chapter  was  chosen  in  commemoration  of  a  large  party 
given  by  the  citizens  of  Pittsfield  in  the  autumn  of  1783  to  celebrate  the 
ratification  of  peace  following  the  termination  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  Chapter  Day  occurs  in  November,  the  month  in  which  occurred 
the    famous    Peace    Partv    above   mentioned.      The    annual    election    of 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY        '  79 

officers  takes  place  in  January.  Until  recently  four  meetings  have  been 
held  each  year,  the  others  being,  in  addition  to  those  just  named,  in  April 
and  Auo-ust,  nearly  all  on  dates  commemorating  some  Revolutionary^ 
war  event  in  which  ancestors  of  chapter  members  were  present.  In 
the  month  of  October,  1905.  it  was  decided  to  hold  meetings  once  each 
month  during  the  ensuing  \\inter. 

In  April  is  commemorated  the  battle  of  Lexington,  by  awarding 
prizes  to  pupils  in  the  high  school  of  Pittsfield  for  the  best  essay  on  some 
Revolutionary  subject.  In  August,  or  near  the  date  of  the  battle  of 
Bennington,  a  field  meeting  has  been  held  which  thus  far  has  proven 
one  of  the  mOiSt  satisfactory  meetings  of  the  year.  In  1902  the  Chap- 
ter made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  scene  of  this  memorable  encounter. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Chapter  the  nation  became  in- 
volved in  the  war  with  Spain.  Althong'h  the  Chapter,  as  a  body,  took 
no  prominent  part  in  relie\  ing  the  sufferings  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
of  the  American  army,  many  indixidual  meml>ers  gave  generously  of 
money  as  well  as  of  time,  their  gifts  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  not 
less  than  four  thousand  dollars.  In  its  corporate  capacity  the  Chapter 
has  contributed  liberally  to  the  national  work  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution  ;  to  the  erection  of  the  tomb  of  Mary  Washing- 
ton;  to  the  building  of  the  home  in  \\'ashington  for  the  Society  at 
large;  to  the  statue  of  Washington  designed  by  Mr.  Daniel  French, 
and  erected  in  Paris  during  the  year  of  the  Exposition:  and  tc^  other 
objects  of  general  interest.  It  has  erected  in  the  park  in  the  centre  of 
the  city  of  Pittsfield  a  beautiful  sun-dial  to  commemorate  the  famous 
"  Old  Elm,"  a  native  forest  tree  particularly  identified  with  the  history 
of  the  city  and  county. 

Through  the  aid  of  the  late  Rollin  H.   Cooke  and  the  efforts  of  a 
very  callable  committee,  the  Chapter  has  located  more  graves  of  Revo- 


so  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

lutionary  soldiers  than  any  other  Chapter  in  the  Union.  The  Chapter 
has  provided  Revolutionary  markers  for  these  graves,  cleaned  and 
straightened  the  headstones,  and  on  Decoration  Day  adorns  them  with 
wreaths  of  evergreen. 

During  the  eight  years  of  its  existence  the  Chapter  has  increased 
in  membership  from  twenty  to  seventy-two.  It  has  had  two  real  Daugh- 
ters of  the  Revolution:  Mrs.  Ann  Eliza  Prentice,  who^  is  yet  living; 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Thompson,  deceased.  Other  members  who  have  passed 
away  are  as  follows  :  Mrs.  Julia  C.  Mitchell  Weston,  Mrs.  Mary  Brew- 
ster Adam,  Mrs.  Mary  Goodrich  Crane,  who  was  the  first  regent ;  and 
Mrs.  Frances  Stevenson  Beach. 

The  present  ofticers  of  the  Chapter  are :  Mrs.  Caroline  Whittle- 
sey, regent;  Mrs.  Harriet  O.  Slocum,  vice-regent;  Mrs.  Florence  N. 
Peirson,  secretary;  Miss  Clara  Bridgman,  assistant  secretary;  Mrs. 
Mabel  W.  Peirson,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Margaret  Baldwin,  registrar;  Mrs. 
Hattie  C.  Stevenson,  historian.     The  following  is  the  membership  roll : 

Miss  Lilian  B.  Adams. 

Mrs.   Sara  Andrews   (G.  W.),  Dalton. 

Mrs.   Margaret  Baldwin  (E.  G.). 

Mrs.  Emma  Bardwell    (R.   G.). 

Miss  Olive  Barker. 

Mrs.  Achsah  A.  Beach  (W.  N.),  Williamstown. 

Mrs.  Marion  Brackin   (J.  A.). 

Miss  Fanny  Brewster. 

Miss  Clara  Bridgman,  Dalton. 

Mrs.  Mary  Bridgman   (E.  A.).  Dalton. 

Mrs.  Anna  F.  Bennett,  Lanesboro. 

Mrs.  Ella  C.  Br^^ant  (C.  M.),  Williamstown. 

Mrs.  Avis  E.  Burton  (S.  C). 

Mrs.   Elizabeth  Chapin   (A.  N.). 

Mrs.   Harriet  Chickering. 

Miss  Annie  Clapp. 

Mrs.   S.  H.  Clapp. 

Mrs.  Kate  Clarv. 

Mrs.   Mary  Clark  (Eliot). 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  81 


Mrs.  Abbie  Cooley   (W.  .H.),  Abroad. 

Mrs.  Almira  Cooley  (S.  M.). 

Mrs.  Ellen  J.  Crane  (Zenas),  Daltcn. 

Miss  Clara  L.  Crane,  Daltcn. 

Mrs.  Ellen  H.  Cranston  (W.  H.). 

Mrs.   Nancy  M.  Dodge. 

Mrs.  Mary  Eoote  (W.  B.). 

Miss  Emeline  Foxcroft. 

Mrs.  Harriette  W.  Francis. 

Mrs.  Nellie  Gardener    ( W.   R.). 

Miss  Mary  J.  Goodricli,  Stockbridge. 

Miss  Ethel  Hawkins. 

Mrs.  Lilian  Haynes   (S.  T. ). 

Mrs.  Frances  Hammond,  Abroad. 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  Hinsdale  (J.  H.). 

Mrs.  Isabel  A.  Jones  (E.  A.). 

Miss  Harriet  Kilbourne. 

Mrs.  Anna  Laird  (J.  H.),  Hinsdale. 

Mrs.  Minnie  M.  lament  (Flarry). 

Mrs.   Eliza  L.  Lane. 

Mrs.   A.  M.  A.  Lombard  (L.  A.),  Abroad. 

Mrs.  Sylvia  Loveless. 

Mrs.   Madeline  B.  Norton  (A.  A.),  Boston. 

Mrs.  Alice  Nachtmann,  Albany. 

Mrs.  Alida  Orr  (Jobn). 

Mrs.  Henrietta  Parker  (R.  T.). 

Mrs.   Elizabeth  Partridge   (H.  W.). 

Mrs.   Mary  Allen  Peck"(T.  L.). 

Mrs.  Florence  N.  Peirson  (F.  E.). 

Mrs.  Mabel  W.   Peirson   (J.  E.). 

Mrs.  Louise  C.  Pomerov  (T.  L.). 

Mrs.  Kate  C.  Plnnkett  (G.  T.),  Hinsdale. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Porter. 

Mrs.   Eliza  Prentice. 

Mrs.   Martha  Read  (F.  F.). 

Miss  Florence  Read,   Pontoosnc. 

Mrs.  Mary  Rifenbergh. 

Mrs.  Florence  Roberts  (Fred). 

Mrs.  Jennie  Root   (J.  A.). 

Mrs.   Fannie  Robbins(    F.  A.).   Springfield. 

Mrs.  Lena  Robertson  (M.  W.). 

Mrs.  Caroline  Smart   (W.  S.).  Adams. 

Mrs.  Louise  P.  Shedd   (Horace). 

Mrs.   Anna  Stevens   (L.  A.). 


82  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Mrs.   Harriet  O.  Slociim   (E.  T.). 

Mrs.   Hattie  C.  Stevenson   (J.  M.). 

Mrs.   Sarah   G.    Stevenson    (Will). 

Mrs.   Seraph   H.   Stevenson. 

Mrs.  Isabel  J.   Stone   (J.   B.). 

Mrs.   Susan  B.  Snyder  (Henry),  Cheyenne.   Wvo. 

Mrs.   Emilv  Tilden   (George). 

Mrs.   Ellen  Tracy   (W.  A.). 

Mrs.   Martha  Wadhan-is. 

Miss  Maria  Warriner. 

Miss  Mary  Wellington. 

Mrs.  Anna  M.   Wentworth    (^W.   H.). 

Mrs.  Caroline  W.  Whittlesey   (W.  A.). 

Mrs.  Olivia  L.   Wilson   ( N.  H.). 

Dr.  Alfreda  Witliington. 

Miss  Minnie  H.  WV-lfe. 

Mrs.  Luella  S.   W^icdruff   (R.   A.). 

Mrs.   Helen  M.  Wright   (C.  H.). 

Mrs.   Kate  Clary. 

Mrs.  Ford. 

Mrs.   S.  Harold  Cla])p. 


Berkshire  Agricultural  Society. 

This  notable  society  had  its  beginning  in  a  meeting  held  in  Pitts- 
field,  on  January  30,  1808,  at  the  tavern  of  Captain  Pepoon.  This 
meeting  had  been  brought  about  by  Elkanah  Watson,  who  had  exhib- 
ited the  ])revious  fall  two  fine  merino  sheep,  a  ram  and  a  ewe,  the 
first  of  that  breed  ever  brought  to  New  England.  They  attracted  much 
attention,  and  he  reasoned  that  a  display-  of  more  animals,  on  a  large 
scale,  would  ha\e  a  good  effect.  During  the  winter  he  urged  the  intro- 
duction of  merino  sheep,  and  finall)"  Ijrought  about  the  meeting"  of  Jan- 
uary 30th. 

Air.  W^atson's  first  exhibit  was  on  a  spot  about  which  cluster  many 
historical  associations,  the  present  Citv  Park,  and  which  remained  in 
its  natural   state   until   about    181J.      Its   most  conspicuous   feature  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  83 

"  The  Old  Elm,"  a  magnificent  tree  standing  near  the  present  centre 
of  the  Pariv,  rearing  itself  to  a  height  of  one  hnndred  and  twenty  feet, 
its  first  limh  branching  out  ninety  feet  above  the  ground.  In  its  shade 
much  transpired  which  made  the  history  of  Pittsfield  notable.  In  1825 
it  looked  down  upon  the  great  ovation  given  to  General  Lafayette,  who 
made  a  visit  to  the  town  and  was  received  with  great  ceremonv  and  en- 
thusiasm. The  tree  finally  became  unsafe,  and  in  1862  was  cut  down. 
It  Vv'as  commemorated  in  "  Taghconic,"  by  Joseph  E.  A.  Smith : 


"  You  must  ha\e  heard  of  the  old  Elm  of  Pittsfield  Park.  It  has  its 
place  of  fame  among  The  Trees  of  America;  and  has  had  this  many  a 
year.  It  is  not  long  since  it  rose  here,  among"  the  young  green  growth, 
the  scarred  and  seared  veteran  of  centuries.  Straight  into  the  air  it 
sprang,  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  feet ;  a  tall  grey  pillar,  bearing  for 
sole  capital  a  few  green  branches,  and  a  few  withered,  shattered  and  bare 
limbs.  From  Greylock  to  Monument  Mountain  there  was  no  inanimate 
thing  so  revered  and  venerable.  Nor  had  it  grown  thus  without  a  story, 
and  one  with  which  the  stories  of  others,  and  human  lives,  were  closely 
entwined." 


Under  "  the  Old  Elm  "  Elkanah  Watson  exhibited  his  sheep,  and 
here  was  held,  in  1810,  the  first  "  cattle  show,''  notable  as  the  real  be- 
ginning of  the  Berkshire  Agricultural  Society,  which,  while  not  the 
first  organization  of  the  kind  in  the  coimtry,  was  the  first  in  Alassa- 
chusetts.  True,  "  The  Western  Society  of  Middlesex  Farmers  "  had 
been  formed  in  1794,  and  was  incorporated  in  1803,  but  it  was  not  in 
purpose  ^^hat  the  Berkshire  Society  was.  The  farmers  present  at  the 
cattle  show  of  1810,  under  the  inspiration  of  Mr.  ^^'atson,  determined 
tliat  the  institution  should  he  made  permanent,  .and  at  the  next  session 
of  the  legislature  a  chcU'ter  was  procured  for  the  "  Berkshire  Agricult- 
ural Societv  for  the  Promotion  of  Agriculture  and  Manufactures." 
The  officers  at  organization  were:     Elkanah  Watson,  president;  William 


84  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Walker  and  S.  H.  Wheeler,  vice-presidents;  Caleb  Hyde,  corresponding 
secretary ;  Thomas  B.  Strong,  recording  secretary ;  John  B.  Root,  treas- 
urer; Joseph  Shearer,  Ezekiel  Bacon,  and  Jonathan  Allen,  trustees.  The 
fair  of  1811  witnessed  a  procession  of  domestic  animals,  including  sixty 
yoke  of  oxen  drawing  a  plow,  and  floats  containing  cloth  making  ma- 
chinery in  operation,  and  specimens  of  Berkshire  county  manufactures. 
Premiums  were  first  awarded,  in  1812  and  1813,  to  women  for  articles 
of  their  own  production.  A  decided  innoA'ation  was  introduced  in 
18 14,  a  committee  of  practical  farmers  being  sent  into  the  fields  through- 
out the  county  to  award  premiums  for  standing  crops.  A  legislative 
appropriation  of  two  hundred  dollars  annually  for  three  years  was  made 
in  1816,  and  this  was  followed  two  years  later  by  an  act  granting  aid 
to  all  county  societies  which  should  comply  wath  certain  conditions. 
The  Berkshire  Society  first  awarded  premiinns  in  plowing  matches 
in  18 18.  As  the  Society  gradually  developed  it  became  a  principal 
model  for  others,  and  Thomas  Gold,  the  third  president,  said  in  1822: 
"  The  fame  and  influence  have  extended  over  the  entire  surface  of  the 
United  States,  its  example  followed,  its  approbation  courted  by  its  ex- 
tended offspring.  It  has  been  recognized,  as  well  in  Europe  as  in 
America,  as  an  original  novel  plan,  and  the  most  excellent  organization 
e\"er  conceived  to  promote  the  great  interests  under  its  patronage."  An 
effort  was  made  in  1823  to  procure  a  permanent  location  for  fair 
grounds,  but  it  languished  until  1855,  "^'^'hen  ^  tract  of  nearly  thirty  acres 
of  land  v/as  purchased  from  William  W.  Goodman,  at  an  outlay  of 
twenty-two  hundred  dollars.  The  grounds  lie  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
north  of  the  Pittsfield  Park,  and  command  a  magnificent  view  of  the 
surrounding  country.  There  was  erected  an  Agricultural  Hall,  and 
later  a  dining  hall,  wdiile  suitable  sheds  and  barns  have  been  built  from 
time  to  time.     On  the  grounds  is  a  half-mile  track  for  speeding  purposes. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  85 

Elkanah  Watson  declined  a  re-election  as  president  in  1814,  and 
in  18 1 6  removed  from  the  county.  He  died  in  Port  Kent,  New  York, 
in  1842,  aged  eighty-four  years.  He  always  regarded  with  great  pride 
his  labors  in  Berkshire  county,  and  the  inscription  upon  his  monument 
records  him  as  "  The  Founder  and  First  President  of  the  Berkshire 
Agricnltural   Society." 


Berkshire  and  Columbia  Missionary  Society. 

This  society  was  organized  February  21,  1798,  and  has  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  missionary  society  in  the  United  States.  At 
the  first  meeting  twenty-three  were  enrolled  as  members,  each  pledging 
to  give  one  dollar  annually. 

The  object  of  the  society  was  "  to  send  missionaries  to  destitute 
fields  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  distribute  Bibles, 
Vincent's  Catechism,  and  tracts."  The  territory  which  supported  the 
society  embraced  Berkshire  coimt}'  and  the  adjoining  county,  Columbia, 
New  York.  Collections  were  taken  annually  in  the  Cong^regational 
churches  of  these  counties.  The  first  collection  received  was  from  the 
church  in  Spencertown,  Columbia  county,  and  amounted  to  $5.64.  The 
first  year  two  missionaries  were  sent  out :  Rev.  Joseph  Brog'en  to  the 
Susquehanna,  and  Rev.  Beriah  Hotchkin  to  the  "  Western  Settle- 
ments," which  extended  westward  from  the  Mohawk  Valley.  For 
man}'  years  missions  Vx-ere  sustained  in  the  states  of  Pennsylvania,  New 
York  and  Vermont.  In  1805  a  donation  of  "  Bibles,  Testaments,  Prim- 
ers and  Dialogues  "  was  received  from  a  gentleman  in  Boston.  Dona- 
tions came  in  from  other  distant  places.  Female  cent  societies  figure 
among  the  donors.  In  time,  after  the  formation  of  national  and  state 
missionary,   Bible  and  tract   societies,    Columljia   county   ceased   to  con- 


86  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

tribute,  but  Berkshire  county  has  still  an  org-anization  and  a  fund, 
the  income  from  which  still  is  devoted  to  home  work  among  the  feeble 
churches  of  the  county. 

At  its  last  an.nual  meeting,  held  February  20,  1905.  it  was  voted 
to  make  efforts  to  increase  the  present  fund  so  that  a  sufficient  income 
can  be  realized  to  support  in  full  a  county  missionary.  The  present 
officers  of  the  society  are :  President,  Judge  Edward  T.  Slocum,  of 
Pittsfield;  Vice-President.  Rev.  George  A.  Andrews,  of  Dalton ;  Treas- 
urer, John  L.  Kilburn,  of  Lee;  Secretary,  ^^'illiam  G.  Harding,  of  Pitts- 
field;  auditor.  Edward  S.  Rogers,  of  Lee;  and  a  board  of  seven  trus- 
tees. 


Berkspiire  County  Home  for  Aged  Women. 

In  1899  the  sons  of  Mr.  Zenas  ALirshal  Crane  erected  at  Pittsfield. 
as  a  memorial  to  their  father,  the  elegant  edifice  known  as  the  Berk- 
shire County  Home  for  Aged  Women,  and  which,   since  its  founding, 
has  supplied  to  many  lonely  ones  the  lack  of  love  and  kindly  attention 
of  Kindred.     In  June  of  the  same  year  the  matron  and  two  old  ladies 
entered  upon  the  occupancy  of  the  building.     At  the  outset  many  peo- 
ple, and  among  them  some  who^  gave  to  the  institution  their  most  de- 
voted effort,  were   skeptical   as  to  the  real  necessity  of  such  a   Home, 
and   seriously  doubted  if   there  could  be   found  a  sufficient  number  of 
persons   of   the   class   for   which   it   was   intended,    to   justify    its   main- 
tenance.    But  if  it  was  slow  in  making  known  its  reasons  for  its  exist- 
once,  it  has  amply  vindicated  itself  and  taken  an  enduring  place  among 
the  worthy  charities  of  Berkshire  county. 

Since  the   institution   opened   its   doors,    sixty-one  old   ladies   have 
been  received  as  inmates,  thirtv  have  died,  nine  have  withdrawn  or  been 


/SCI 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  87 

dismissed,  and  twenty-two  are  now  inmates.  The  Board  of  Control  is 
officered  as  follows:  Mrs.  Zenas  Crane,  president;  Airs.  C.  W.  Kel- 
logg, vice-president;  Mrs.  William  Newton,  honorary  vice-president; 
Mrs.  Edward  T.  Slocnm,  secretary;  Mrs.  Minnie  R.  Trowhridge.  treas- 
urer. 

The  corporation  numbers  two  hundrerl  and  thirty  contributing  mem- 
bers. Besides  the  home  care  provided  for  the  inmates  of  the  institu- 
tion, each  year  various  entertainments  are  gotten  up  for  their  enjov- 
ment — teas  at  private  residences,  sociables,  and  seats  at  lectures,  theat- 
rical performances,  concerts,  etc.  The  annual  cost  of  maintaining  the 
Home  is  about  $ii,ooo.  The  endowment  fund  is  nearly  $50,000.  and 
the  property  is  valued  at  about  $35,000. 

Applicants  for  admission  to  the  Home  must  not  be  less  than  sixtv 
years  of  age,  and  must  have  been  residents  of  Berkshire  countv  for  five 
years  preceding  application  for  admission.  The  entrance  fee  is  three 
hundred  dollars,  and  after  this  payment  no  charg-e  whatever  is  made 
for  maintenance. 

CRANE  FAMILY. 

The  Crane  family  of  Massachusetts,  numerously  represented  in 
present  generations,  has  been  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the  com- 
monwealth from  early  colonial  days. 

Henry  Crane,  Iwrn  in  England,  i)rol)ably  about  1621,  died  in  Mil- 
ton, Massachusetts,  Alarch  21,  1709.  married  TaJjitha  Kinsley,  daugh- 
ter of  Ste])hen  Kinsley.  She  died  soon  after  1681.  and  he  married 
(second)  about  1683,  Elizabeth  (name  unknown)  who  survived  him. 
The  selectmen's  records  of  Dorchester  show  that  he  had  a  farm  (;f  one 
hundred  and  twent}"  acres,  \\ith  a  house  which  he  had  a])])arcntly  occu- 
pied several  years  prior  to  1654.     He  was  a  selectman  in  Millon.   1O79- 


8S  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

80-81.  and  a  trustee  of  the  first  meeting'  house  built  there.  xAn  auto- 
graph letter  of  May  7,  1677,  is  in  Vol.  30,  p.  239,  Massachusetts  Ar- 
chi\'es.      He  had  ten  children.      The  second  by  his  first  wife  was : 

Stephen  Crane,  born  about  1657,  died  July  20,  1738;  married, 
Julv  2,  1676,  Mary  Denison,  born  1660,  died  June  17,  1721.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  .Vugust  13,  1723,  Comfort,  widow  of  Samuel  Belcher, 
at  Braintree,  Massachusetts;  she  died  at  Milton,  December  21,  1745. 
He  had  six  children  by  his  first  wife.     The  sixth  was: 

Benjamin  Crane,  born  December  17.  1692,  married,  December  27, 
1722,  Abigail  Houghton.  They  had  eight  children.  The  seventh 
was : 

Stephen  Crane,  born  May  19,  1734,  married,  November  13,  1762, 
Susannah  Badcock,  born  in  Milton,  Massachusetts,  February  7,  1742. 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Susannah  (Tucker)  Badcock.  Stephen 
Crane  remo\'ed  tO'  Canton,  Massachusetts,  and  built  a  house  on  Punka- 
poag*  brook,  near  its  junction  with  Neponset  ri\-er.  His  g^randmother, 
Susannah  Tucker,  was  baptized  August  23,  1719,  she  was  a  daug'hter 
of  Ebenezer  Tucker,  and  granddaughter  of  Manasseh  Tucker,  of  Mil- 
ton, who  was  born  about  1681,  son  of  Deacon  Manasseh  Tucker,  who 
before  168 1  married  Waitstill  Sumner,  probably  daughter  of  Roger 
and  Mary  (Josselyn)  Sumner,  of  Dorchester,  and  granddaughter  of 
William  Sumner,  who  was  in  Dorchester  as  early  as  1636.  Deacon 
Manasseh  Tucker  was  probably  son  of  Robert  Tucker,  who  was  in 
W^e^mouth  in  1638,  and  remox'ed  to  that  part  of  Dorchester  which 
l)ecame  ^Milton,  and  was  representative  in  1669-80-81. 

Nathaniel  Badcock,  who  married  Susannah  Tucker,  was  baptized 
in  Milton,  July  5,  1719,  son  of  Nathaniel  Badcock,  Jr..  who  was  born 
December  16,  1684,  and  died  January  22,  1719;  he  married  May  3, 
T710,  Mary  Field,  born  1682,  died  December  3,  1759.    He  was  a  son  of 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  89 

Nathaniel  Badcock,  born  March  14,  1658,  died  January  7.  1719,  and 
had  a  wife  Hannah  and  four  children.  This  Nathaniel  was  son  of 
Robert  Badcock,  A\ho  was  in  Dorchester  as  early  as   1648. 

In  1730,  Daniel  Henchman,  a  Boston  bookseller,  having-  had  some 
encouragement  from  the  general  court,  built  at  Milton  the  first  paper 
mill  in  New  England,  but  it  ceased  operations  in  a  few  years  from  a 
lack  of  skilled  workmen.  In  1760  it  was  revived.  In  1775  Massa- 
chusetts had  only  three  small  mills.  The  home  of  Stephen  Crane  was 
in  that  corner  of  Canton,  now  near  Dedham,  Hyde  Park  and  ]\Iilton, 
near  the  paper  mill.  His  son  Stephen  having  learned  the  business 
there,  established  himself  at  Newton  Lower  Falls.  He  had  five  chil- 
dren besides  Stephen  J.     The  sixth  child  was : 

Zenas  Crane,  born  May  9,  1777,  died  in  Dalton,  June  20,  1845, 
married,  November  30,  1809,  Lucinda  Brewer,  born  1788,  died  May 
2,  1872,  jetat.  84,  daughter  of  Gains  and  Lucretia  (Babcock)  Brewer, 
■of  Wilbraham. 

Wlien  he  had  to  choose  his  life  employment,  he  went  to  his  brother 
Stephen  and  learned  the  rudiments  of  the  business  of  paper  making, 
then  he  went  to  Worcester  and  completed  his  studies  in  the  mill  of 
General  Burljank.  In  1799  he  started  westward  on  horselrick  in  search 
of  a  suitable  location.  At  Springfield  he  found  a  mill  established  be- 
fore 1788,  probably  by  Eleazer  Wright,  and  went  further  west  until 
he  reached  the  upper  Housatonic,  and  passed  his  first  night  in  Berk- 
shire at  an  inn  near  the  border  line  between  Dalton  and  Pittsfield.  not 
far  from  where  his  sons,  Zenas  M.  and  James  B..  afterward  built  fine 
mansions,  and  where  the  Crane  mills  are  still  turning  out  products  that 
hrive  a  worldwide  as  well  as  a  national  fame. 

In  1799  Dalton  had  nearly  one  thousand  inhabitants,  chiefiv  en- 
gaged in  agriculture,  among  them  were  such  men  as  William  Williams, 


90  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

soil  of  the  distinguished  loyahst.  Colonel  and  Judge  Israel  Williams, 
of  Hatfield,  and  a  cousin  of  Ephraim  Williams,  founder  of  Williams 
College,  who  entrusted  to  him  chiefly  the  execution  of  his  plans;  Cal- 
vin AValdo,  a  graduate  of  Dartsmouth.  and  a  prominent  lawyer;  Dr. 
Perez  Marsh,  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and  a  county  judge;  and  other 
men  of  like  character.  At  that  time  the  nearest  mills  were  at  Spring- 
field, Massachu'setts ;  Bennington.  Vermont ;  Troy,  New  York ;  and 
Hartford.  Connecticut,  \\diile  the  site  was  selected  in  1799,  the  mill 
was  not  huilt  until  the  spring  of  1801.  as  is  shown  by  the  following 
advertisement  in  the  Piftsticld  Sun  of  February  8,   1801  : 

"  Americans ! 

''  Encourage   your   ok'u   Manufactories,   and   they   ivill   improve. 

"  Ladies,  fave  your  RAGS. 

''  As  the  Subfcribers  have  it  in  contemplation  to  erect  a  PAPER- 
MILL  in  Dalton,  the  enfuing  fpring-;  and  the  bufiness  being  very  ben- 
eficial to  the  community  at  large,  they  flatter  themfelves  that  they  shall 
meet  with  due  encouragement:  Ancl  that  every  woman,  who  has  the 
good  of  her  country,  and  the  intereft  of  her  own  family  at  heart  will 
patronize  them,  by  laving  th.eir  rags,  and  fending  them  to  their  Manu-  • 
factory,  or  to  the  neareft  Storekeeper — for  which  the  Subfcrihers  will 
give  a  generous  price. 

HENRY  WISWALL, 
ZENAS  CRANE. 
JOHN  WILLARD. 
Worcefter,  Feb.  8,  i8ot." 

Martin  Chamberlain,  a  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  an  earlv  settler  of 
the  town,  was  at  first  apparently  skeptical,  and  would  give  onlv  oral 
permission  to  erect  a  building  and  make  the  experiment,  but  finallv  (  De- 
cember 25,  1801)  executed  a  deed  to  Henry  Wiswell,  Zenas  Crane  and 
Daniel  Gilbert  for  about  fourteen  acres  of  land,  with  a  paper  mill  and 
appendages  thereon  standing,  for  $194.  Gilbert  had  taken  the  place 
of  John  Willard.      The  building  was  a  one-vat  mill,  and  its  main  part 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  n 

was  of  two  stories,  of  which  the  upper  one  was  used  as  a  drying  loft. 
Its  capacity  was  twenty  posts,  a  post  being  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
sheets  of  paper.  When  tlie  mill  started  there  were  two  weekly  news- 
papers in  the  county,  and  one  of  them  purchased  much  of  its  supply 
from  this  mill.  In  1779  there  were  only  five  iX)stoffices  in  Berkshire 
coimty.  and  in  1801  only  seven.  The  nearest  one  tO'  Dalton  was  at 
Pittsfield.  where  Mr.  Crane  received  his  mail  matter  until  1812,  when 
the  Dalton  postofiice  was  established. 

Mr.  Crane  conducted  the  mill  since  known  as  the  "  Old  Berkshire  " 
until  1807,  when  he  sold  his  undivided  third  to  his  partner,  Wiswell, 
and  went  into  the  mercantile  business  in  the  eastern  part  of  town,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1810.  In  that  year  (April  28),  he  bought 
David  Carson's  interest  in  what  was  later  known  as  the  "  Old  Red 
Mill,"  which  was  run  for  a  time  by  Crane,  V.'iswell,  Chamberlin  and 
Cole  until  1822.  when  Mr.  Crane,  who  had  from  the  date  of  his  purchase 
been  superintendent  and  chief  manager,  hecame  sole  owner.  In  1842  he 
transferred  his  interest  in  the  Old  Red  Alill  to  his  sons,  Zenas  ^Marshall 
and  James  Brewer,  who  were  alread}-  his  partners.  That  vear  the  B. 
&  A.  railroad  was  opened.  In  the  fall  of  1870  the  mill  was  l)urned, 
but  was  rebuilt.  In  1879  the  firm  was  awarded  the  contract  for  sup- 
plying the  United  States  government  with  paper  for  bank  bills.  United 
States  bonds,  etc.  To  fill  this  contract  the  firm  Ixmght  the  brick  mill 
which  had  been  liuilt  a  few  years  Ix-fore  by  Thomas  Colt,  in  Pittsfield, 
very  near  the  Dalton  line,  not  far  from  the  site  of  the  inn  where  the  first 
Zenas  Crane  passed  his  first  night  in  Berkshire.  It  is  now  known  as 
the  Government  Mill.  Several  of  its  employees  are  detailed  from  the 
Treasury  Department  at  A\'ashington.  and  not  the  slightest  irregularity 
has  ever  come  to  light,  such  is  Ihe  perfection  of  the  svstem  employed. 

The  introduction  of  silk  tlu'eads  into  the  fibre  of  the  paper  was  the 


92  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

discovery  of  Zenas  Marshall  Crane,  in  1846,  but  he  did  not  apply  for  a 
patent  at  the  time,  although  his  idea  was  adopted  by  several  state  banks. 
Twenty  years  later,  when  the  United  States  government  adopted  the 
plan,  an  Englishman  endeavored  to  establish  a  claim  as  the  patentee,  but 
the  fact  that  the  state  banks  could  show  issues  made  by  them  at  an  earlier 
date  saved  the  government  much  more  in  royalties  than  any  profit  the 
Cranes  may  have  received. 

In  1850  the  firm  of  Crane  &  Wilson  leased  a  stone  factory  which 
had  been  built  in  1836  as  a  woolen  factory,  between  the  Old  Red  Mill 
and  the  Government  Mill,  the  youngest  son  of  the  pioneer,  Seymour 
Crane,  being  then  a  member  of  the  firm.  In  1865  the  property  was 
rented  by  Zenas  Crane,  Jr.,  the  eldest  son  of  Zenas  M.  Crane.  The 
mill  was  burned  May  15,  1877,  and  rebuilt  on  a  larger  scale,  and  has 
since  been  operated  by  Z.  and  W.  M.  Crane. 

Mr.  Crane  was  several  times  in  the  legislature  after  181 1,  and  was 
in  the  executive  council  in  1836-37  with  Governor  Everitt.  November 
30,  1809,  he  married  Lucinda  Brewer,  daughter  of  Gaius  and  Lucretia 
(Babcock)  Brewer,  of  Wilbraham,  Massachusetts.  The  children  of 
Zenas  and  Lucinda  (Brewer)  Crane  were: 

1.  Lucinda,   born   March    19,    18 13. 

2.  Zenas  Marshall,  born  January  21,  1815;  married  Caroline  E. 
Laflin;  married  (second)   Louise  F.  Laflin. 

3.  James  Brewer,  born  April  31.  18 17,  married  Eliza  B.  Thomp- 
son; married   (second)   Mary  E.  Goodrich. 

4.  Lindley  Murray,  born  March  17,   1822. 

5.  Seymour,  born  September   16,   1826. 

In  1847,  Lindley  Murray,  third  son  of  Zenas  Crane,  established  a 
mill  at  Ballston  Spa,  New  York,  where  he  died,  1879.  Robert  B.  and 
James,  sons  of  James  B.  Crane,  as  Crane  Brothers,  established  paper 
mills  at  Westfield,  Massachusetts. 


^II[^^§  li^AL^SfrGAL      CLKi/?\[?ai 


/rS'S'O. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  n 

ZENAS  MARSHALL  CRANE. 

Zenas  Marshall  Crane,  second  child  and  eldest  son  of  Zenas  and 
Lncinda  (Brewer)  Crane,  whose  history  appears  in  the  Crane  family 
sketch  which  precedes  this  in  the  work,  was  born  January  21,  18 15,  in 
Dalton,  Massachusetts. 

Zenas  M.  Crane  was  a  man  whose  name  will  not  fade  as  long  as 
Berkshire  has  a  history,  as  he  was  a  maker  of  the  history  of  this  county. 
His  life  was  an  ideal  one,  and  success  was  his  in  everything  he  under- 
took. As  a  paper  manufacturer  he  had  no  peer  in  Massachusetts  or  any- 
where else  in  this  country.  But  it  is  not  alone  as  a  paper  maker  that  he 
was  strong.  He  had  a  large  brain  and  a  large  heart,  w-as  strong  in 
intellect,  in  sympathy,  in  eveiything  which  goes  to  make  up  the  best  in 
man  which  we  call  character.  There  was  no  sham  about  iiim,  nothing 
which  could  be  criticised  as  on  a  low  plane.  He  never  reached  down 
except  to  grasp  the  hand  of  the  lowly  who  needed  lifting  up.  He  was 
always  reaching  for  those  things  which  are  known  as  the  good,  the  true 
and  the  beautiful.  It  was  not  in  his  nature  to  do  a  man  a  wrong,  and 
there  is  evidence  on  every  hand  tO'  show  that  all  these  elevating  char- 
acteristics were  true  of  him.  The  living  men  and  women  who  were 
employed  in  the  Crane  paper  mills  in  Dalton  during  any  part  of  the  time 
while  he  conducted  them  are  ever  ready  to  speak  of  his  kindness  and 
generosity,  and  those  who  have  passed  over  to  the  maj<jrit}'  were  never 
heard  tO'  say  anything  derogatory  of  the  man  ^vho  had  for  so  many 
}ears  employed  them  at  good  wages,  had  looked  after  them  when  they 
were  sick  or  unfortunate,  who  never  turned  any  of  them  awa}-  unless 
it  was  for  some  great  misdeed  which  could  not  l)e  overlooked. 

Nothing  shows  the  stauncli,  stable  worth  of  a  man  better  than  the 
manner  in  which  he  treats  his  employees  3'ear  after  year,  and  the  whole 


94  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

great  army  of  those  who  were  employed  by  him  and  his  brother  for 
so  man\'  vears,  if  their  tongues  could  speak,  would  rise  up  to  call  him 
blessed.  But  in  a  much  broader  sense  should  Zenas  M.  Crane  be  spoken 
of  in  this  connection.  Outside  of  his  business  affairs  he  was  a  man 
who  held  a  high  and  honored  portion.  The  paper  trade  from  one  end 
of  this  country  to  the  other  knew  him  to  be  a  man  of  the  highest  integ- 
rity and  the  strictest  honesty.  The  men  who  had  dealings  with  him  in 
the  paper  business  knew  that  when  he  told  them  he  would  manufacture 
for  them  a  paper  of  a  certain  c|uality  that  it  would  not  fall  below  the 
grade  he  had  promised.  In  short,  he  was  a  man  of  his  word  not  only 
in  business  but  in  all  things  which  pertained  to  his  long  and  eventful  life. 
He  was  not  grasping  in  l)usiness  by  any  means. 

His  charities  were  far  greater  than  anyone  knew  about.  One  of 
the  most  lasting  monuments  to  his  memory  is  the  Old  Ladies'  Home  in 
Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  This  substantial  and  artistic  brick  structure, 
which  is  one  of  the  ornaments  toi  South  street,  was  given  by  him.  There 
was,  however,  no  provision  in  his  will  for  it.  In  conversation  with  his 
sons,  only  a  short  time  before  his  death,  he  expressed  a  wish  to  donate 
to  his  native  county  such  a  honie.  He  made  it  so  plain  to  them  that 
he  intended  to  leave  such  a  provision  in  his  will,  that  after  his  death  his 
family  made  known  his  wish,  and  determined  to  carry  out  his  desire. 
The  result  was  the  erection  of  this  Berkshire  County  Home  for  Aged 
Women.  It  may  be  said  here  that  the  great  regard  and  deep  love  his 
widow  and  children  cherish  for  him  found  expression  in  carrying  out 
to  the  very  letter  his  idea  to  establish  this  beautiful  home  for  the  old 
ladies  of  the  county  of  Berkshire,  which  not  only  those  who  have  a 
very  comfortable  hime  within  its  walls  appreciate,  but  which  the  in- 
liabitants  of  the  whole  county  are  very  proud  of  and  greatly  admire. 
A  bequest  of  Mr.  Crane's  was  a  sum  of  $5,000  tO'  the  House  of  Mercy, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  95 

Pittsfield.  He  lived  in  a  generous  stvle.  liis  house  and  grounds  being 
among  tb.e  most  attractive  in  Rerkdiire.  ITe  was  a  good  entertainer, 
a]thoug-h  not  on  \\1iat  might  l;e  called  an  elaborate  scale. 

In  politics  he  was  in  his  early  years  an  ardent  Whig.  When  the 
Repuljlican  ]>artv  was  founded  in  1856  be  became  one  of  its  most  zealous 
members,  and  was  connected  v\itb  tliat  part}'  during  the  remainrler  of  his 
life.  He  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  this  party  not  only  in  his  native 
county,  but  throughout  the  state  of  Massachusetts.  The  party  honored 
him  bv  sending  him  to  the  state  senate,  to  which  be  was  elected  in  1856 
and  1857.  It  canniit  be  said  that  he  was  ambitious  politically,  as  he 
rather  assisted  other  men  in  the  party  to  succeed  in  securing  ])olitical 
offices  tlian  to  be  elected  himself.  He  was  a  staunch  friend  of  the  late 
Senator  Dawes,  and  whenever  the  latter  was  a  candidate  for  congress- 
man he  was  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  district  to  further 
his  interests.  Mr.  Crane  was  a  lifelong  pf)litical  and  personal  friend  of 
the  late  Judge  James  Robinson,  of  North  Adams,  and  when  the  latter 
came  to  Pittsfield  to  hold  probate  court,  Mr.  Crane  usually  came  in 
from  Dalton  and  they  would  spend  an  liour  tog'ether  delightfully,  usually 
talking  over  political  matters  and  indulging  in  reminiscences.  These 
conversations  often  resulted  in  furnishing"  Judge  Robinson  themes  for 
editorials  in  his  North  Adoiiis  Transcript.  This  was  especially  true 
during  the  administration  of  President  Cleveland,  when  Judge  Robin- 
son was  editorially  delivering  those  memorai)le  philippics  against  the 
president. 

Mr.  Crane  took  the  liveliest  interest  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 
During  the  administration  of  Governor  .\ndrews  he  was  a  member  of 
the  executi\e  council  in  1862  and  1863,  and  in  this  jx^sition  he  exhibited 
qualities   of    sound    sense,    business    ability   and   adherence   to    principle 


9«;  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

which  so  strong"]}'  cliaracterized  him  in  private  hfe  and  assisted  the  "  war 
governor  "  greatly  during  those  trying  times  of  the  nation. 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  Mr.  Crane  was  a  great  lover  of 
the  "  Berkshire  Hills."  as  he  spent  his  whole  life  among  them.  His 
father.  Zenas  Crane,  removed  from  his  native  town  of  Canton,  in  Nor- 
folk county,  to  Daltoii  in  1801.  Here  he  built  the  first  paper  mill  west 
of  the  Coinnecticut  river,  and  became  well  es1:ablished  in  his  business. 
He  was  a  man  of  wide  and  general  information,  and  had  such  sterling 
business  ability  that  properly  crowned  his  efforts  in  the  paper  making 
business  from  the  first.  Under  the  training  and  teaching  of  such  a 
father,  the  mind  and  character  of  Zenas  M.  Crane  was  formed.  The 
father  gave  him  and  his  younger  brother,  James  Brewer  Crane,  a 
thorough  business  education,  including  a  minute  knowledge  of  the  de- 
tails of  the  paper  manufacturing  as  it  was  at  that  early  time  conducted. 
In  1842  the  father  transferred  the  business  toi  his  sons,  Zenas  M.  and 
James  B.,  and  they,  like  their  father,  were  successful  to  such  a  degree 
that  they  were  obliged  to  enlarge  the  plant  from  time  to-  time.  The 
Cranes  always  made  "  honest  paper,"  and  the  product  has  always  stood 
high  in  the  market.  Much  of  their  success  was  due  tO'  the  fact  that 
they  always  had  the  most  modern  machinery,  but  the  great  business 
abilit}^  and  manufacturing  skill  of  the  senior  partner  must  not  be  over- 
looked. During  the  coin-se  of  Mr.  Crane's  business  life  a  great  many 
inventions  changed  the  process  of  paper  making,  and  many  of  them 
were  the  results  of  his  own  ingenuity.  He  invented  an  attachment  to 
the  Fourdrinier  machine  to^  regulate  the  flow  of  paper  and  create  an 
even  surface,  and  in  1846  a  way  of  introducing  into  the  fibre  of  bank 
bills  numbers  corresponding  to  their  value  toi  prevent  the  raising  of 
their  denomination  without  detection.  He  did  not  apply  for  a  patent 
on  the  latter  ingenious  contrivance,  but  some  twenty  years  later,  when 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  97 

the  national  banking'  system  was  established,  the  ])ractical  men  at  the 
head  of  financial  affairs  adopted  a  plan  essentially  the  same  as  Air. 
Crane's,  to  pre\'ent  the  connterfeiting  of  the  ])aper.  Soon  after  the 
gOA'ernment  had  adopted  Mr.  Crane's  ideas  in  this  regard,  an  English- 
man came  to  A\'ashington  claiming  the  inxention.  bnt  as  bank  bills  in 
the  Alahaine  Bank  in  Great  Barrington  and  some  (;thers  had  adopted 
Mr.  Crane's  inxention  long  before  the  date  of  the  Englishman's  patent, 
it  saved  the  government  from  paying  the  foreigner  royalty.  If  Mr. 
Crane  had  secnred  patents  on  his  various  inventions  thev  would  un- 
doubtedly have  brought  to  him  a  large  fortune  in  themselves.  Bv 
neglecting  to  do  so  other  paper  manufacturers  profited  In-  them  \\  ithout 
extra  cost  of  paying  royalties. 

Mr.  Crane  married,  August  29,  1839,  Caroline  E.  Lafhn,  of  Lee, 
Massachusetts,  born  May  31,  1818,  died  January  16,  1849.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  Louise  E.  Laflin,  born  July  i,  1830,  sister  of  his  first 
wife.  His  children  are:  Zenas,  born  December  6,  1840,  married 
Ellen  J.  Kittredge;  Kate  E.,  born  October  17,  1843;  Caroline  L.,  born 
April  26,  1851  ;  \\'inthrop  Murray,  born  April  it,,  1852,  married  Mary 
Benner.     Air.  Crane  died  March  12,   1887. 

JAMES  BREWER  CRANE. 

James  Brewer  Crane,  who  succeeded  to  a  share  in  his  father's  busi- 
ness as  heretofore  narrated,  was  the  third  child  and  second  son  of  Zenas 
and  Lucinda  (Brewer)  Crane,  born  in  Dalton,  Massachusetts,  April  30, 
1817,  and  died  August  4,  1891.  He  married  (first)  Eliza  Barlow 
Thompson,  of  Dalton,  and  (second)  Mary  E.  (kiodrich,  who  died  Octo- 
ber 10.  1904.  (Eor  her  ancestry  see  below.)  He  had  four  children  by 
his  first  wife: 


98  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

1.  Robert  B. 

2.  James. 

3.  Lizzie  L.,,   who  married   Dr.    \Villiam   L.    Paddock,   a   leading 

physician  of  Pittsfield. 

4.  Jennie  L.,   who   married   Dr.    Frank   M.    Couch,   a   prominent 

physician  in  Dalton. 

By  his  second  wife,  James  B.  Crane  had  : 

5.  Frederick  G.,  who  married  Rose  Paddock,  daughter  of  the  late 
Dr.  Frank  K.  Paddock,  of  Pittsfield,  and  through  her  mother  a  grand- 
daughter of  Dr.  John  Todd,  one  of  the  leading  clergymen  of  his  day. 
Frederick  G.  Crane  succeeded  to  his  father's  share  in  the  business  of 
Crane  &  Co. 

6.  Mollie,  who  married  the  Rev.  Herbert  S.  Johnson,  now  a  well 
known  Baptist  minister  in  Boston. 

Besides  generous  gifts  to  public  institutions  in  his  lifetime,  Mr. 
Crane  left  in  hi.-,  will  $15,000'  to  the  Home  for  Aged  Women,  and  $10,- 
000  to  the  House  of  Mercy,  both  in  Pittsfield,  besides  $22,000'  for  public 
purposes  not  named. 

The  Goodrich  family,  of  which  the  late  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Crane  was  a 
member,  had  its  American  founder  in  the  person  of  William  Goodrich 
(i),  born  in  England,  probably  in  or  near  Bury  street,  Edmunds,  county 
of  Suffolk,  who  presumably  came  to  America  with  his  brother  John  as 
early  as  1643.  "J^^e  first  entry  on  the  Connecticut  records  is  October 
4,  1648,  the  date  of  his  marriage  to  Sarah  Marwin.  She  came  in  the 
ship  "Increase"  from  London  in  1635,  at  the  age  of  three  years,  with 
her  father,  Matthew  Marwin,  her  mother  Elizabeth,  and  one  brother 
and  three  sisters.  Matthew  Marwin  was  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in 
1638,  an  original  proprietor.  He  was  one  of  the  original  grantees  of 
Nonvalk,  Connecticut,  settled  there  in   1653,  and  was  a  representative 


BERKSHIRE  COUXTV  99 

the  next  year.  He  had  three  more  children  Ijorn  in  Hartford.  Tn 
Hartford  he  H\'ed  on  tlie  corner  of  Village  (now  Pleasant)  and  Front 
streets.  Sarah  was  christened  at  Great  Bentley,  in  England,  Decem- 
ber 21,  1 63 1,  where  her  father  had  been  baptized,  at  St.  Mary's  Church, 
March  26,  1700.  Her  mother,  Elizabeth,  was  born  in  1604.  Great 
Bentley  is  sixty-two  miles  from  London,  on  the  Tendring  Hundred 
branch  of  the  Great  Eastern  Railway  in  county  Essex. 

Matthew  Marwin  was  a  son  of  Edward  and  Margaret,  grandson  of 
Reinold  and  John,  and  descended  from  Roger  Merwyn,  who  was  born  as 
early  as  1430  and  left  a  wife  Matilda.  His  will,  written  in  Latin,  is 
recorded  at  Ipswich,  county  of  Suffolk.  He  directed  that  his  body 
should  be  buried  there  in  the  parish  church  at  St.  Stephen's,  which  is  one 
of  the  oldest  churches  in  Ipswich,  and  is  mentioned  in  "  Domesday 
Book."  Much  interesting  matter  may  be  found  in  the  "  Marwin  Eng- 
lish Ancestry,"  published  in    1900  by  William  I.  R.   Manvin. 

William  Goodrich  (i)  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  Connecticut  in 
1656,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Wethersfield,  was  a  deputy  to 
the  general  court  at  Hartford,  May  15,  1662,  and  one  of  the  grand 
jury.  He  was  appointed  ensign  of  the  train  band  at  Wethersfieid  in 
1663,  and  is  called  "  Ensign  "  William  Goodrich  in  1676,  just  after  the 
close  of  King  Philip's  war.  He  died  in  1676  and  his  widow  married 
(second)  Captain  William  Curtis,  of  Stratford,  and  died  in  1702. 
Goodwin's  "Genealogical  Notes"  state  that  William  and  John  Good- 
rich were  hrst  at  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  coming-  to  Wethersfieid 
with  the  first  com-settlers  about  1636.  William  Goodrich  had  nine 
children. 

John  Goodrich  (2)  son  of  \\'illiam  Goodrich,  was  born  May  20, 
1653,  ^'"i^^  f^'^d  September  5,  1730.  He  married,  March  28,  1678,  Re- 
becca Allen,  who  was  born  February,   1660,  daughter  of  Cajit-;'!::  ]  hn 


1(10  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  Sarah  Allen,  of  Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  Captain  John  Allen 
lived  in  W'ethersfield,  Connecticut.  He  came  from  the  county  of  Kent, 
England,  in  1635,  in  the  ship  *'  Abigail,"  with  his  wife  Ann,  each  of 
the  age  of  thirty  vears.  Ann  died  and  he  married  Sarah  as  his  second 
wife.  He  joined  the  church  May  22,  1641,  was  admitted  freeman  in 
June,  1642,  was  of  the  artdlery  company  in  1639,  was  the  wealthiest  man 
in  the  town  in  1657,  and  captain  and  representative  in  1668.  He  died 
March  2/,  1675.  John  and  Rebecca  Goodrich  had  nine  children.  The 
seventh  was : 

Allyn  Goodrich  (3),  born  at  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  Xcivember 
13,  1690,  died  April  8,  1764.  He  married,  December  29,  1709,  Eliza- 
beth Goodrich,  who  was  born  November  19,  1691,  and  died  at  Farming- 
ton,  Connecticut,  August  25,  1726,  daughter  of  Colonel  David  and 
Hannah  (Wright)  Goodrich.  Colonel  David  Goodrich  was  born  May 
4,  1667,  a  son  of  William  (T),  so  that  Allyn  and  Elizabeth  were  cousins; 
he  was  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  old  Erench  war.  Allyn  Goodrich 
married  (second)  December  10,  1729,  Hannah  Seymour,  who  was  born 
March  28,  1707,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (North)  Seymour. 
Mr.  Goodrich  settled  first  in  Wethersfield,  but  removed  to  that  part  of 
Farmington  called  "  Great  Swamp  Village."  where  he  was  a  blacksmith. 
He  had  seven  children  by  his  first  wife,  and  two  by  the  second.  His 
second  child  was : 

Elisha  Goodrich  (4),  born  September  2,  17 12.  He  married  No- 
vember 21,  1734,  Rebecca  Seymour,  who  was  born  June  25,  171 1, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (North)  Seymour,  and  sister  to  his 
stepmother.  Samuel  Seymour  and  his  wife  were  original  members  of 
the  church  in  Kensington.  Connecticut,  then  called  the  "  Second  Church 
in  Farmington."  which  included  Kensington  at  that  time.  Mr.  Sey- 
mour was   son   of  Richard  and    Hannah     (Woodruff)     SevnKxu",    and 


BERKSHIRE  COrXTV  KH 

grandson  of  Richard  Seymonr,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Hart- 
ford in  1639. 

Ehsha  Goodrich.  (4),  was  on  the  "town  hst  "  of  Pittsfield.  Xo- 
vemher  16,  1772,  withi  a  fann'Iy  of  four  persons,  and  with  his  wife 
Rebecca,  was  admitted  to  the  church  June  5,  1722.  He  had  two  chil- 
dren.    The  second  was : 

Josiah  Goodrich  (5),  born  at  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  January 
15,  1740,  died  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  October  24.  1798.  He 
married,  September  10,  1767,  Ruth  (iill)ert,  who  was  born  August  14. 
1743,  and  died  August  4,  1777.  He  married  (second)  in  Wethersfield, 
Connecticut.  February  25,  1779,  widow  Abigail  (W^olcott)  Wright,  who 
was  born  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  .\i)ril  21,  1752,  and  died  at 
South  Hadley,  Massachusetts.  December  24.  1831,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Wyatt)  W^olcott ;  her  first  husband  was  Levi  Wright,  to 
whom  she  was  married  January  30,  1772.  Church  records  in  Pittsfield 
show  that  Josiah  Goodrich  was  admitted  as  a  meml)er,  September, 
178 1,  by  letter  from  church  in  Glastonbury,  Connecticut.  Thev  also 
show  that  Josiah  (Goodrich  and  Abigail,  his  wife,  were  admitted  March 
2,  1794.  Mr.  (loodricli  had  one  child  b}-  his  first  wife  and  seven  b^• 
the  second  wife.      His  fifth  child,  the  fourth  by  his  second  wife,  was: 

Levi  Gooclricli  (6),  Ix.-n  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  December  9, 
1785,  and  died  August  8,  j868.  He  married,  February  2/,  1806. 
Wealthy  W'liitney.  who  was  born  January  6.  1788.  and  died  Julv  24. 
1858.  daughter  of  Josliua  and  Anna  (Ashley)  \\'hitney.  of  Pittsfield. 
The  family  Bible  calls  him  Zevi  Wright,  hut  other  records  have  the 
name  Levi.  He  and  his  wife  were  admitted  to  the  Congregational 
church  in  1832.  and  lived  at  Pittsfield.  He  was  an  active  and  success- 
ful imsiness  man,  as  a  farmer,  builder  and  contractor.  He  had  contracts 
on  the  Harlem.  Housatonic,  Western  and  Xorth  Adams  railroads.      He 


1U2  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

was  many  times  called  to  hold  office,  and  wielded  a  great  influence  in 
town  affairs.     He  had  ten  children,  of  whom  the  third  was: 

Noah  Whitney  Goodrich  (7),  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
May  17,  181 1,  and  died  January  9,  1875.  He  married,  September  16, 
1832,  Abigail  Porter  Goodrich,  bom  November  28,  1812,  died  Septem- 
ber 2,  1 89 1,  daughter  of  Butler  and  Lydia  (White)  Goodrich.  He 
lived  ou  Summer  street  in  Pittsfield,  and  with  his  wife  was  admitted 
to  the  Congregational  church  in  1832.  Having  spent  his  life  in  Pitts- 
field he  was  well  acquainted  with  its  history,  and  was  regarded  as  an 
authority  in  the  matter  of  roads  and  boundaries.  While  he  was  de- 
scended from  William  Goodrich,  the  settler,  through  his  son  John,  his 
wife  was  descended  through  another  son,  Ephraim,  whose  wife  was 
Sarah  Treat,  daughter  of  Richard  Treat  and  grand-daughter  of  Richard 
Treat,  an  early  settler  in  Wethersfield.  Ephraim  Goodrich  had  a  son 
Gideon,  who  married  Sarah,  and  he  had  Caleb,  who  married  Huldah 
Butler,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Butler  Goodrich,  whose  wife  was 
Lydia  White.  Noah  W.  Goodrich  and  his  wife  were  fourth  cousins. 
Lydia  White  was  descended  from  Elder  John  White,  who  came  from 
England  in  the  ship  "  Lion  "  in  1632,  settled  in  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, but  removed  to  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1636.  Lydia 
White's  father,  Ebenezer,  leased  the  mill  privilege  near  Elm  street  in 
Pittsfield,  in  1778.  He  was  admitted  to-  the  church  in  1776,  and  his 
wife  Abigail  (Porter)  in  1774.  She  was  daughter  of  Abraham  Por- 
ter, Oif  Hartford,  Connecticut.  Noah  W.  Goodrich  had  the  following 
children,  all  born  in  Pittsfield:  1.  Harriet,  born  June  6,  1834;  2. 
Levi  W.,  born  May  31,  1836.  married  Alice  Battle;  3.  Mary  E.,  bom 
June  21,  1838,  married  James  B.  Crane;  4.  Lydia  L..  born  August  24, 
1840,   married   William    H.    Cooley ;    5.  Lydia   W.,   born    September    i. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  K'3 

1842,  married  John  Feeley;  6.  Frank  Hinsdale,  born  April  7,  1846, 
married  Elda  Hoyt;  7.  Fanny,  born  May  4,  1855,  married  Frank  A. 
Robbins. 

WINTHROP  MURRAY  CRANE. 

The  achievements  of  representatives  O'f  the  Crane  family  in  the 
mannfacturing  ^vorld  and  their  services  in  the  councils  of  the  state  have 
had  their  natnral  culmination  in  these  opening  years  of  the  Twentieth 
Century  in  the  appointment  of  Hon.  Winthrop  ]>^lurray  Crane  to  the 
senate  of  the  United  States  as  successor  to  that  venerable  statesman, 
the  late  George  F.  Hoar. 

In  this  dawning  of  the  new  century,  too,  his  resourcefulness  as  a 
business  man  has  been  recognized  by  his  election  to  a  number  of  import- 
ant directorates.  These  responsibilities,  in  conjunction  with  extensive 
paper  making,  large  property  and  other  important  interests,  constitute 
the  gentleman  in  Cjuestion  one  of  the  m.ost  interesting  figin'es  in  this  most 
interesting  national  era  in  both  the  political  and  the  business  world. 
Tliat  Senator  Crane  owes  much  to  heredity  for  the  distinction  and  suc- 
cesses which  he  has  attained,  the  records  of  the  Crane  family  herein 
contained  serve  to  demonstrate  conclusively,  and  he  would  be  the  hrst 
to  admit,  indeed,  he  has  many  times  with  characteristic  modesty  and 
filial  devotion  insisted  that  the  honors  thrust  upon  him  were  practically 
so  many  testimonials  to  the  ^^■orth  of  both  father  and  grandfather  of 
unusual  'business  capacity  and  enterprise,  of  uncompromising  integrity, 
and  of  generally   recognized   public  and  pri\ate  usefulness. 

That  W.  Murray  C'rane  has  done  much  more  than  to  simply  pre- 
serve untarnished  the  excellence  of  the  famil}'  name  is.  however,  current 
history,  and  the  details  of  his  personal  career  have  an  entirel}-  indixidual 
as    well   as   an   extreniclN'   al  s(.rl)in<i"   interest.      He  was   born,    where   he 


1(14  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

has  resided  thronghcnit  his  Hfe.  in  Dalton,  Massachusetts.  April  23, 
1852.  attended  the  piil)lic  schools  of  his  native  connty,  and  the  academies 
at  W'illjraha.m  and  Easthampton,  and  then  entercl  his  father's  mills  to 
learn  the  paper  making"  hnsiness.  This  accomplished  in  due  course 
with  a  thoroughness  subsecpiently  demonstrated,  he  then  gave  his  in- 
ce]>tive  e\-idence  of  diplomatic  ability  by  obtaining-  at  Washington, 
whither  he  had  gone  on  his  own  initiative,  the  government  bank-note 
paper  contract  which  the  Crane  establishment  has  held  for  nearly  thirty 
vears.  This  contract  secured  he  succeeded,  after  one  month's  personal 
work  in  an  old  mill  turned  over  to  him  by  his  father  for  experimental 
purposes,  in  perfecting  a  pa]>er  product  that  has  fully  satisfied  the  re- 
quirements of  the  government  for  bank-note  purposes. 

Until  1892  W.  Murray  Crane  was  not  known  in  politics.  That 
year  he  was  made  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  national  convention,  and 
was  reluctlantlv  persuaded  to  accept  the  place  of  national  committeeman 
from  Massachusetts.  He  si]eedily  came  to  exercise  a  strong  influence 
on  the  committee,  and  so  his  pcditical  career  began.  In  1896  he  was 
the  manager  of  ihe  Ree'l  forces  in  the  St.  Louis  convention,  to  which  he 
was  a  delegate.  In  1897  he  was  elected  lieutenant-governor,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1898  and  1899.  The  n.ext  year  he  was  elected  governor, 
and  held  the  state's  chief  office  for  three  years.  After  Theodore  Roose- 
velt was  called  to  the  duties  of  the  presidency  by  the  death  of  President 
McKinley.  he  early  sought  the  counsel  of  Mr.  Crane.  The  two  men 
have  maintained  close  relations,  and  the  president  invited  the  governor 
of  Massachusetts  to  become  secretary  of  the  treasury,  which  offer  was 
declined,  as  Avas  a  tender  of  the  navy  portfolio.  In  1902  Governor 
Crane  was  in  the  carriage  with  President  Roosevelt  when  the  bodyguard 
of  the  latter  was  killed  by  the  car  collision  in   Pittsfield.     Mr.   Crane 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  105 

Avas  a  member  of  the  Republican  national  committee,  and  one  of    Mr. 
Cortelyou's  advisers  in  the  conduct  of  the  national  campaign  of  1904. 

On  the  12th  of  October.  1904.  Governor  Bates  tendered  the 
place  in  \A'ashington  left  x-acant  by  the  decease  oi  Senator  Hoar  to  the 
ex-Governor,  who  accepted  the  appointment.  Although  Mr.  Crane  is 
essentially  and  strongl}-  partisan  politically,  his  friends  and  admirers  are 
by  no  means  confined  to  his  political  associates,  as  will  be  gathered  from 
the  following  Springfield  (Massachii.'^cfts)  Republican  editorial  com- 
ment on  his  appointment  as  senator  and  his  gubernatorial  career: 

"  Arguing  from  his  success  as  governor,  the  usefulness  of  Mr. 
Crane  in  this  national  office  is  likely  to  be  so  demonstrated  and  estab- 
lished by  1907  as  to  insure  his  continuance  in  it.  He  has  not  sought 
public  office,  and  he  has  not  failed  to  demonstrate  his  capacity  when  dis- 
charging a  trust  which  has  been  conferred  by  the  people. 

"  Senator  Crane  will  not  be  an  orator  after  the  fashion  of  the  tra- 
ditional senatorial  type,  albeit  he  is  not  without  the  power  of  clear,  strong 
and  convincing  statement.  This  ability  of  his  will  be  cultivated  as  it 
has  not  been  before.  In  the  large  affairs  of  business,  where  he  has 
been  allied  with  men  of  national  reputation  on  important  directorates, 
Mr.  Crane  has  made  himself  felt  in  a  manner  that  the  public  does  not 
realize.  He  will  be  effective  in  the  senate  in  this  way,  and  powerful  in 
committee  service.  In  shaping  results  he  will  surpass  senators  of  the 
oratorical  sort.  This  may  be  confidently  expected.  Power  in  the 
United  States  senate  has  been  passing  from  the  orators  to  the  men  of 
affairs,  who  know  ho\\-  to  handle  men  and  tO'  control  results  as  they 
are  obtained  in  the  world  of  business.  Senators  Aldrich  and  Quay,  and 
Piatt,  of  New  York,  have  been  masterh'  hands  in  the  game  of  politics 
and  of  legislation.  It  is  more  desirable,  in  behalf  of  the  public  interest, 
the  cause  of  the  people  and  of  good  g'overnment.  that  Massachusetts 
send  to  serve  in  the  senate  some  one  who  can  manage  men  with  tact 
and  tireless  industr}-  in  the  shaping  of  legislation,  guided  by  high  ])rin- 
ciples,  than  that  she  be  represented  there  by  a  ])leasing  orator,  when  the 
influence  of  results  is  looked  for.  In  this  light  the  wisdom  of  the  choice 
which  Governor  Bates  has  made  promises  to  be  established.  That  it 
is  a  selection  agreealjle  to  the  state  is  certain.  WHiere  Senator  Hoar, 
with  all  his  virtues,  was  unable  to  play  tlie  modern  game.  Mr.  Crane 
ought  to  be  and  will  be  strong"  as  a  conserving  influence  for  that  which  is 
right    and    ])ractical.      His    influence    with    the     administration,     alread}- 


106  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

strong,    will    be   increased.     He   can    serve   the   state   and    the   country 
to  advantage  in   Washington." 

Massachusetts  has  come  to  know  Mr.  Crane  and  to  regard  him 
with  increasing  respect.  His  record  as  governor  stands  out  conspicu- 
oiisly  in  the  long  list  of  those  who  have  served  the  state  in  its  chief 
office.  During  the  three  years  that  he  served,  things  were  done  and 
reforms  achieved  wath  an  industry  a,nd  force  that  was  exceptional  and 
fruitful.  When,  in  Januaiy,  1903,  Governor  Crane  retired  from  office, 
leading  citizens  of  Boston  tendered  him  a  complimentary  dinner,  which 
the  late  executive  declined  in  an  appreciative  letter.  The  invitation  to 
him  set  forth  the  grounds  upon  which  the  recognition  was  based,  as 
follows : 

"  Three  years  ago  you  entered  upon  your  duties  as  governor  of  the 
commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  a  position  associated  with  strong  cliar- 
acters  and  high  traditions.  During  your  terms  of  office  you  have  con- 
served the  traditions,  added  luster  to  the  office  and  gained  for  yourself 
the  confidence  of  the  whole  people.  Your  administration  has  been  pure 
and  just.  You  have  devoted  your  marked  executive  abilities  to  the  de- 
tails as  well  as  to  the  greater  duties  of  your  position.  You  have  been 
accessible  to  the  humblest  citizen,  and  have  carefully  weighed  the  counsel 
of  strong  men.  You  have  acted  upon  your  decisions  with  confidence 
and  courage.  You  have  been  a  leader  in  the  promotion  of  industrial 
peace  and  the  mutual  understanding  of  employers  and  employed.  You 
have  knit  the  whole  people  into  a  more  sympathetic  and  united  bodv." 

Such  was  the  impression  produced  by  the  three  administrations  of 
Governor  Crane,  and  it  was  the  verdict  of  the  state.  Again  TIic  Clin's- 
tiaii  Register  recorded  a  verdict  that  was  general  in  these  words : 

"  There  has  just  gone  out  of  the  governor's  office  in  the  common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts  a  man  whom  we  can  commend  all  the  more 
heartily  because  he  is  not  a  Unitarian.  For  he  is  one  who  illustrates 
what  we  call  the  Unitarian  idea  of  public  service.  He  is  a  rich  man 
who  had  the  confidence  of  the  poor.  He  is  a  man  capable  of  control- 
ling great  business  operations,  and  yet  apparently  is  without  personal 
ambition  or  desire  for  official  advancement.     He  regarded  his  office  as 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  107 

an  op|X)rtunity  to-  serve  the  people.  All  its  showy  accessories  he  gladly 
relinquished  to  others.  He  could  not  make  an  eloquent  speech,  and  he 
never  tried  to.  He  has  shown  by  his  example  that  people  of  all  classes, 
from  teamsters  to  college  presidents,  could  understand  and  appreciate 
modesty,  simplicity,  honesty  and  unfaltering  devotion  to  the  interests 
of  the  people.  As  he  passes  out  of  office,  it  would  be  difficult  for  a 
stranger  to  learn  by  the  record  of  his  acts  and  utterances  to  what  polit- 
ical party  he  belongs,  to  what  church,  and  what  was  his  attitude  in  re- 
gard to  national  questions  that  did  not  come  directly  in  the  line  of  his 
personal  duty  and  responsibility.  The  moral  of  it  is  that  he  who  minds 
his  own  business,  and  minds  it  well,  deserves  credit,  gets  honor,  and 
shows  the  way  in  which  loyal  men  and  women  may  best  serve  the 
country." 

Some  brief  particularizing  will  show  the  grounds  upon  which  this 
praise  rested.  Governor  Crane's  work  was  after  the  pattern  of  the  old, 
self-contained  New  England  accomplishment.  His  first  message  de- 
clared that  "  Massachusetts  has  reached  a  limit  of  indebtedness  beyond 
which  she  should  not  go,''  and  it  was  the  text  on  which  he  acted.  His 
first  inaugural  address  was  the  shortest  on  record  in  Massachusetts,  and 
it  was  confined  to  reform  recommendations,  eveiw  one  of  which  was 
enacted  into  law  during  the  year  1900'.  Tlie  second  inaugural  was 
longer,  because  the  governor  had  results  to  report  and  more  reforms 
to  block  out;  all  he  asked  for  was  accomplished.  The  third  inaugural 
made  another  batch  of  definite  recommendations,  and  they  were  acted 
upon.  In  the  first  year  50,000  shares  of  the  Fitchburg  railroad  com- 
mon stock — held  for  thirteen  years  and  carried  on  the  books  of  the  state 
treasurer  as  an  asset,  so  worthless  were  they  considered — were  sold  to 
the  Boston  and  Maine  railroad  for  «$5, 000,000;  and  the  last  year  of 
Governor  Crane's  administration  the  New  York,  New  Haven  and  Hart- 
ford railroad  paid  a  price  for  the  state's  reclaimed  lands  in  Boston  that 
surprised  that  company  and  the  public.  He  knew  business  and  how  to 
do  it.     Neither  Greenhalge  nor  Russell  insisted  more  successfully  upon 


108  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  principle  of  home  nile  as  applied  to  cities.  Salaries  were  not  raised 
in  the  three  years,  save  in  the  single  instance  of  the  chairman  of  the 
railroad  commission,  and  that  was  to^  insure  the  work  of  Chairman 
Jackson,  \\hose  services  were  very  important  to  the  state.  The  over- 
expansion  of  state  commissions  was  checked,  and  consolidations  were 
achieved — that  of  the  cattle  commission  with  the  lx)ard  of  agriculture,  of 
the  state  fire  marshal's  expensive  establishment  with  the  district  police, 
of  the  inspector-general  of  fish  with  the  commission  on  inland  fish- 
eries and  game,  and  of  the  state  pension  agent  and  commissioner  of 
state  aid  in  one  body,  with  a  deputv\  An  unpaid  board  of  publication 
was  created  to  edit  state  reports. 

In  promoting  results.  Governor  Crane  placed  himself  upon  frank 
working  terms  with  the  legislature,  wielding  the  inlluence  of  the  leader- 
ship in  both  branches  to  the  support  of  what  was  agreed  to  be  for  the 
pulilic  interest.  He  vetoed  an  undesirable  Washington  street  subway 
bill  in  Boston,  which  failed  duly  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  ])ublic, 
and  there  was  a  furious  fight  to  pass  the  nieasure  over  his  head,  which 
happily  ended  in  his  favor;  and  the  next  year,  by  tactful  yet  masterful 
co-operation  with  Mayor  Collins  and  the  elevated  railway  people,  proper 
legislation  was  achieved. 

One  of  Governor  Crane's  important  successes  was  in  unofficiallv  but 
none  the  less  effectually  bringing' peace  out  of  the  great  strike  which 
sadly  disturbed  Boston  and  threatened  all  New  England,  in  March,  1902. 
The  method  then  employed  was  subsecjuently  taken  by  President  Roose- 
velt, upon  the  urgent  insistence  of  the  Massachusetts  governor,  in  set- 
tling the  great  coal  strike.  The  story  of  the  Massachusetts  strike  was 
thus  told  in  the  Boston  Post: 

"  Thousands  of  men  from  the  different  railroads  of  Boston,  and 
many  more  thousands  engaged  in  trucking  the  city's  merchandise,  threw 


/^^-^. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  109 

up  their  hands  and  quit  work.  There  was  httle  \iolence.  The  inten- 
sity of  the  storm  seemed  only  mcreased  by  the  outward  calm.  The 
strikers  sought  to  ally  every  laboring  interest  with  their  own.  Scarcely 
a  team  was  driven  about  the  streets.  Boston  merchants  were  distracted. 
Every  day  of  the  strike  meant  a  loss  of  thousands  of  dollars.  The  rail- 
road companies,  against  whom  the  strike  was  directed,  remained  as 
unyielding  as  the  coal  barons.  The  threatening  disaster  to  the  city  be- 
came the  calamity  of  the  state.  Governor  Crane  was  appealed  to,  and 
not  in  "vain.  For  days  the  indomitable  state  leader  bent  himself  to-  the 
task  of  relie\-ing  the  situation.  All  his  personal  and  official  influence 
was  brought  to  bear  ujxju  the  leaders  of  both  sides  of  the  strike.  Con- 
ferences at  the  statehouse  were  held  daily.  Both  sides  were  for  a  time 
inexorable.  But  Crovernor  Crane's  diplomacy  won  in  the  end.  The 
striking  teamsters  and  the  railroad  men  returned  to  work  and  one  of 
the  greatest  calamities  that  ever  threatened  Boston  was  averted. 

"Senator  Crane  is  a  modest  and  resourceful  man  of  business,  who 
has  developed  aptitude  for  ])olitics  and  public  afifairs,  and  has  been  and 
will  be  absolutel}-  de\oted  to  that  which  he  believes  to  be  right  and  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  people  and  the  countr\^  Self-seeking  and 
self-interest  \\\\\  never  dominate  him.  He  has  deserA'ed  the  faith  of 
his  state  and  holds  it  in  full  measure.  He  is  a  man  of  the  people,  and 
men  of  all  parties  trust  him." 

Senator  Crane  married,  February  5,  1880,  Mary  Brenner,  of  As- 
toria. Long  Island,  who*  died  February  16,  1884,  lea\ing  one  son,  Win- 
throp  Murra\'  Crane,  Jr..  a  graduate  of  Yale,  class  of  1903. 

W.  J\l.  Crane,  Jr..  emulated  his  father's  example  in  learning  the 
paper  niaking  Imsiness  in  the  mills  at  Dalton,  and  is  now  of  the  com- 
pany. He  married  in  b'ebruary,  1905.  ]\liss  Fthel.  daughter  of  Arthur 
W.  Eaton,  president  of  the  Faton-Hur]l)ut  Paper  Companv.  Pittsfield. 


ZENAS  CRANE. 

Senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Z.  &  \V.  AI.  Crane,  operating  the 
chain  of  paper  mills  elsewhere  referred  to  herein,  the  gentlemrui  whose 
name  introduces  this  narratixe  has  jjrox'en  equal  in  fullest  measure  to 
the  large  res])onsil)ilities  which  ha\e  devolved  ujKjn  him. 


no  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

He  was  born  December  6,  1840,  eldest  of  the  children  of  the  late 
Zenas  Marshall  Crane.  He  received  a  liberal  general  and  thorough 
business  education.  In  1865  he  rented  the  Bay  State  Mill,  subsequently 
purchasing  it  and  operating  it  successfully  up  to  its  destruction  by  fire, 
May  15,  1877.  Upon  its  site  there  was  immediately  erected  a  larger 
mill  by  the  new  firm  of  Zenas  Crane,  Jr.,  &  Brother,  the  junior  jKirtner 
being-  Winthrop  Murray  Crane.  Subsequent  to  1887  the  firm  was 
known  as  Z.  &  \N .  M.  Crane. 

Mr.  Crane  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  state  legislature,  and  as 
executi\'e  councillor  in  1885,  Governor  Robinson's  administration.  The 
Art  Museum,  Pittsfield,  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  Zenas  Crane.  The  struct- 
ure at  Dalton  designed  to  accommodate  a  town  hall,  opera  house  and 
public  library,  was  given  by  the  Cranes,  who  were  also  largely  instru- 
mental in  the  erection  in  1888  of  the  Congtregational  church,  Dalton. 

Mr.  Crane  married  Ellen  J.,  daughter  of  Charles  J.  and  Frances  M. 
(Birchard)  Kittredge,  of  Hinsdale.  Charles  J.  Kittredge  was  a  son 
of  Dr.  Abel  Kittredge  (see  sketch,  Charles  H.  Plunkett). 

Charles  J.  Kittredge,  ninth  child  of  Dr.  Abel  and  Eunice  (Chamber- 
lain) Kittredge,  born  in  Hinsdale,  Massachusetts,  April  i,  18 18.  died 
March  i,  1893;  married,  June  17,  1845,  Fi'ances  M.  Birchard.  Their 
daughter,  Ellen  J.,  married  Zenas  Crane,  of  Dalton,  of  Crane  &  Co., 
paper  manufacturers,  and  of  the  firm  of  Z.  &  W.  M.  Crane. 

The  sixth  child  of  Dr.  Abel  Kittredge  was  Eunice  C,  born  in 
Hinsdale,  January  18,  181O';  married,  January  16,  1839,  Hiram  P. 
Paddock,  of  Hamilton.  Their  sons  were  Dr.  Erank  K.  Paddock,  of 
Pittsfield,  now  deceased,  who  married  Anna  Todd,  and  Dr.  ^\'illiam  L. 
Paddock,  now  a  physician  in  Pittsfield.  Rose,  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
Erank  K.  Paddock,  is  the  wife  of  Frederick  G.  Crane. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  111 

JAMES  WELLS  HULL. 

The  science,  for  it  is  nothing  less,  of  conducting  an  insurance  insti- 
tution upon  sound  business  principles  has  been  the  life  stud}^  of  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs,  and  the  substantial  basis 
upon  which  thousands  of  families  are  to-day  afforded  the  security  of 
insurance  protection  through  the  Berkshire  Life  Insurance  Company,  at 
as  low  a  cost  to  the  insured  as  is  possible  with  the  absolute  safeguarding 
of  the  general  interests,  is  in  no  small  measure  due  tti  the  wisdom  of 
his  conduct  of  the  offices  which  he  has  held  therewith,  particularly  that 
of  which  he  is  incumbent,  the  presidency.  The  branch  of  the  Hull  family 
of  which  James  Wells  Hull  is  a  member  had  its  American  founder  in 
the  person  of 

Rev.  Joseph  Hull,  who  was  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  in 
1594;  matriculated  at  St.  Mary  Magdalen  Hall,  Oxford,  May  12.  1612; 
was  instituted  rector  of  Northleigh,  Diocese  of  Exeter,  De\-onshire,  .\pril 
14,  1621,  and  sailed  from  Weymouth  for  America  with  his  family,  a 
wife,  two  sons,  five  daughters,  and  three  servants.  March  20,  1635.  Rev. 
Hull  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  plantations  which  subsequently  be- 
came the  townships  of  Weymouth  and  Barnstable,  Massachusetts;  was 
twice  deputy  to  the  general  court:  and  in  1638,  one  of  the  local  magis- 
trates of  Hingham,  Massachusetts;  was  elected  freeman  and  deputy 
for  Barnstable  at  the  first  general  court  held  at  Plymouth;  was  preach- 
ing at  York,  Maine,  in  1642-43,  and  at  the  Isles  of  Shoals;  returned  to 
England  in  1652,  where  he  was  given  the  living  at  St.  Burian,  Corn- 
wail,  where  he  remained  until  after  the  Restoration.  In  1662  he  re- 
turned to  America  and  settled  as  minister  at  Oyster  River,  now  Dover, 
New  Ham])shire,  and  again  at  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  where  he  died  No- 
vember 19,  1665.     Of  his  children, 


1 1 2  BERKSHIRE  CO  UNTY 

Ca]3tain  Tristram  Hull.  Ijorn  in  England  in  1624.  died  at  Barn- 
stable, February  22,  1662.  That  he  was  humane  and  had  the  courage 
of  his  conviction  is  suggested  by  records  of  February.  1656,  and  again 
in  1657,  Boston,  disclosing  his  having  been  tined  for  coming  to  the 
rescue  and  relief  of  persecuted  Quakers.     He  had  a  son, 

Joseph  Hull,  born  at  Barnstable,  June,  1652;  married,  Octoher, 
1676,  Experience,  daughter  of  Robert  Har])er,  who  was  one  of  the 
first  of  the  Quakers  to  suffer  in  body  and  estate:  was  in  1660  banished 
from  Boston,  located  in  South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  where  he 
died  about  1709.  Of  the  children  of  Joseph  and  Experience  (Harper) 
Hull, 

Tristram  Hull  married  Elizabeth  Dyer,  whose  mother  Mary  was 
hanged  in  Boston  Common,  June  i,  1660,  for  the  crime  of  being  a 
Quakeress.  Tristram  Hull's  descendants  were  among  the  settlers  of 
Providence,  Newport,  South  Kingston  and  Jamestown,  Rhode  Island. 
Of  the  children  of  Tristram  and  Elizabeth  (Dyer)  Hull. 

Stephen  Hull,  born  1714,  of  Westerly,  Rhode  Island,  married 
Mary  Mowry,  granddaughter  of  Benjamin  Mowry,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Roger  Mowry  and  of  Thomas  Hazard.     A  son  of  Stephen, 

Latham  Hull,  born  in  1749.  died  in  1807,  of  Stonington,  Con- 
necticut, married  Anne  Wheeler,  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Wheeler. 
A  son  t^f  Latham  and  Anne  (  Wheeler)  Hull, 

Jeremiah  Hull,  lx)rn  1770,  also  of  Stonington,  married  Keturah 
Randall  Williams,  descended  from  Rohert  Williams,  of  Foxbury,  Mas- 
sachusetts.    Of  their  children, 

Charles  Williams  Huh,  lx;rn  in  Stonington  in  1798,  located  in 
1819  in  New  Lebanon,  New  York,  where  he  became  a  leading  agri- 
culturist and  sheep  breeder.  He  married,  September  10,  1834,  Lucena 
Ann  Churchill,  of  Winfield,  Madison  county,  New  York,  a  descendant 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  113 

of  Josias  Churchill,  of  Wethersfiekl,  Massachusetts.     Charles   Williams 
Hull  died  in   1866:    his  wife  in   1890.     Of  their  children. 

James  Wells   Hull   was  horn  in   New   Lehanon.    Xew  York.    Seji- 
tember  20,    1842.      His  general   education  was   received   in   pul)lic   and 
private   schools  of    New   Lebanon   and   this    was    supplemented   by    his 
attendance  in  1862  at  Eastman's  Business  College.  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  on  the  staff  of  teachers  of  which  institution  he  was  retained  for 
the  term  of  '63-'64.     The  following  year  he  tanght  in  the  public  school 
at  New  Lebanon.     On  February  6,    1865.   he  reuKued  to  Pittslield  to 
accept    a    position    in    the    Pittsfield    (now    Pittsfield    National)    Bank, 
where  he  remained  for  seven  years,  resigning  his   bank  cimnection  tt:) 
assume   in  February.    1872,   the   duties   of   secretary   of    the    Berkshire 
Life  Insurance  Company,  succeeding  to  its  treasurership,  vice  Edward 
Boltwood,  deceased,  April  15,   1878;  and  to  its  presidency,  vice  Will- 
iam R.  Plunkett,  deceased,  December  21.  1903.     jNIr.  Hull  is  a  member 
also  of  the  directorates  of  tlie  Pittsfield  Electric  Street  Railway  Com- 
pany, Pittsfield  Coal  Gas  Company,  and  is  one  of  the  original  directors 
of  the  Pittsfield  Electric   Company.      He   was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Third   National  Bank  of  Pittsfield,  and  an  original  stockholder  of 
the  Stanley   Electric   Manufacturing   Company.      Mr.    Hull's    contribu- 
tions to  the  structural  growth  of  Pittsfield  are  his  handsome  home  ou 
Appieton  avenue  and  the   Hull-Morton   Blod<,   North  street,   in  which 
latter   he  is  jointly   interested   with   W.   G.    Morton,   of  Albany,   New 
York. 

Mr.  Hull  is  a  Democrat  who  has  exercised  a  very  large  measure  of 
independence  in  disposing  of  his  franchise,  being  animated  therein 
rather  by  patriotism  than  partisanship.  He  was  elected  to  the  school 
committee  of  Pittsfield  in  1877,  and  served  as  chairman  of  that  body 
for  five  years,  when  he  was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  pressure 


114  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  business.  He  was  apj^ointed  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  State 
Board  of  Health  by  Govtninr  Russell  in  1893,  reappointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Wolcott  in  1898.  and  again  reap];;::inted  by  Governor  Douglas 
in  1905.  ]\Ir.  Hull  was  a  delegate  of  the  Actu.arial  Society  of  Amer- 
ica to  the  International  Congress  of  Actuaries  at  Paris  in  1900,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  same  Congress  x3f  Actuaries  in  New  York  in 
1903.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  assessors  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational Parish  of  Pittsfield  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  end- 
ing in   1902,  and  declining  re-election. 

He  married,  November  22,  1876,  Helen  Edwards,  daughter  of  the 
late  Thomas  F.  Plunkett,  of  Pittsfield.  (See  Plunkett  family.)  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hull  have  three  daughters  and  two  sons :  Helen :  Rosamond. 
a  graduate  of  Smith  College;  Norman  C,  a  graduate  of  Yale;  Edward 
B.,  class  of  1906,  Yale;  and  Carolyn. 

DR.  OSCAR  SAMUEL  ROBERTS. 

New  England's  centers  of  population  are  well  endowed  with  medi- 
cal talent,  and  a  large  proportion  of  her  physicians  trace  their  ancestry 
to  the  sturdy  pioneers  who  blazed  their  way  through  the  wildernesses  of 
the  new  world.  Their  sons  and  daughters,  and  the  progeny  of  these, 
in  turn,  were  infused  with  the  same  spirit  of  enterprise,  with  the  same 
bravery,  thrift  and  conscientiousness  that  characterized  the  fathers.  And 
the  aggregation  of  great  states  that  constitute  this  great  nation  are 
foundationally  their  achievements. 

During  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  James  Roberts, 
then  of  Greenfield,  Massachusetts,  took  his  newly  wedded  wife,  Eunice 
Nimms,  to  the  ne\vly  founded  village  of  Whitingham,  Vermont.  He 
had   a  well   grounded  kno^^dedge  of  agriculture  through   practical   ex- 


^.5  /U^' 


BERKSHIRE  CO  I  'N  TV  115 

perieiice  in  his  youth  on  tlic  homestead  farm  in  Connecticut,  where  his 
English  ancestors  had  settled,  and  he  had  a  well  defined  love  for  books, 
the  natural  outcome  of  studious  habits  as  a  school  boy. 

In  those  days  of  the  young  republic  each  ambitious  dweller  in  the 
inland  towns  and  \'illages  especial!}-  was  by  stress  of  circumstances  com- 
pelled to  l^ecome  well  informed  and  indeed  expert  at  more  than  one  call- 
ing". Thus  the  farmer  was  always  a  miller ;  the  shoemaker  often  a 
teacher;  the  blacksmith,  an  oracle  upon  all  subjects. 

James  Roberts  successfully  tilled  the  soil  of  a  large  farm  at  Whit- 
ingham,  a  part  of  a  three  thousand  acre  tract  granted  to  him  and  seven 
others,  March  15,  1780.  Contemporaneously  and  with  equal  success  he 
practiced  law  there.  His  ser\ices,  too,  w^ere  in  constant  requisition  in 
discharging  the  duties  of  town  clerk  (1795-99),  selectman  (ten  years), 
and  other  local  offices,  and  he  represented  his  town  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture continuously  from  1797  to  1801,  and  again  during  1806  and  1807. 
He  proved  equal  to  his  responsibilities  in  full  measure,  growing  with 
their  development.  He  was  in  short,  a  type  of  that  aggressive,  progres- 
sive and  capable  American  manhood  that  has  builded  a  nation.  He 
died  March  12,  1825,  surviving  his  wife  but  two  months. 

He  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters :  John,  who^  became  a  lead- 
ing lawyer  of  Townshend,  Vermont,  which  he  represented  in  the  legis- 
lature, 1819  to  1823,  and  again  1832-33;  Horace,  also  a  lawyer,  who 
died  in  early  manliood  in  Whitingham;  James,  who'  followed  farming, 
and  w  ith  whom  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  decease ;  Thomas,  the 
fourth  son,  who  was  a  cripple. 

The  son  James  had  the  same  habits  of  thought  that  characterized 
the  father  although  his  business  was  confined  to  agriculture,  which  by 
the  time  he  had  attained  his  majority  was  becoming  much  more  of  a 
science  than  in  former  years.     His  services,  too,  were  sought  and  freely 


1 1 G  BERKSHIRE  CO  UN  T  Y 

given  in  various  local  offices  of  trust,  where  the  sole  emolument  was  the 
consciousness  of  duty  well  performed,  and  he  represented  his  town  with 
credit  in  the  state  legislature.  In  his  early  manhood  he  belonged  to  the 
local  company  of  militia  which  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

He  married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was  Susan  Brown,  a  na- 
tive of  Whitingham,  by  whom  he  had  four  children :  Susan  Minerva, 
who  married  Dr.  John  W.  Bement,  of  Townshend,  Vermont;  James  M., 
deceased,  farmer  of  Whitingham;  Sarah  M.,  who  married  Joseph  R. 
Goodnow,  of  Whitingham ;  and  Martha  Ann,  who  died  in  early  woman- 
hood. His  second  wife,  Joanna  Haskell,  bore  him  four  children:  B. 
Franklin,  farmer  of  Whitinghami;  Edward  L.,  formerly  a  merchant  of 
Brattleborc;  Oscar  .Samuel,  the  immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs; 
and  Henry  M.,  farmer  of  Whitingham. 

Oscar  Samuel  Roberts,  born  at  Whitingham,  Vermont,  September 
17,  1837,  supplemented  the  usual  local  school  attendance  with  a  high 
school  course  at  Shelbu.rne  Falls,  Massachusetts,  and  academic  instruc- 
tion at  Leland  and  Gray's  Seminary,  Townshend.  During  his  two 
years  stay  at  Shelburne  Falls  he  was  a  member  of  the  family  of  his  sis- 
ter, whose  husband,  Dr.  J.  W.  Bement,  was  a  leading  physician  of  that 
place. 

This  association  first  directed  his  attention  to  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine as  a  desirable  profession,  and  immediately  following  the  close  of  his 
school  life  at  Townshend  he  took  up  its  study  under  Dr.  Bement's  pre- 
ceptorship.  In  1861  he  came  to  Pittsfield  for  the  course  of  lectures  of 
Berkshire  Medical  College,  and  the  following  year  was  appointed  acting 
medical  cadet  at  one  of  the  United  States  army  hospitals  in  Philadelphia. 

His  service  in  this  connection  covered  a  period  of  two'  years  and 
afforded  him  the  opportunity  which  he  embraced  O'f  attending  the  medi- 
cal department  and  clinics  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.     Return- 


BERKSHIRE  COJ^NTV  117 

ing  to  Vermont  he  went  to  Burlington  to  enter  the  medical  department 
of  the  University  of  Vermont,  and  was  graduated  therefrom  Avith  the 
class  of  1864.  He  then  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Belchertown,  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  until  1868,  when  he 
returned  to  Philadelphia  for  a  final  course  in  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  graduated  therefrom  with  the 
class  of  '69.  In  the  same  year  he  located  in  Pittsfield.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Berkshire  District  Tvledical  Society,  Massachusetts  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  American  Medical  Association.  He  served  for  a  number  of 
years  as  a  member  of  Pittsfield  Board  of  Health,  and  has  been  since 
1884  secretary  of  the  board  of  examining  surgeons  for  pensions,  at  Pitts- 
field. 

Dr.  Roberts  is  one  of  those  born  healers  of  men  whose  natural  in- 
clination and  aptitude  for  his  profession  have  been  augmented  by  a 
splendid  education,  and  to  this  equipment  have  been  added  these  many 
}'ears  of  varied  and  constantly  increasing  practice.  But  the  gentleman 
is  something  more  than  the  medical  expert  qualified  to  accurately 
diagnose  the  disease  and  prescribe  the  remedy  diat  will  assist  nature  to 
the  best  advantage  in  repairing  the  damage,  something  more  than  the 
self-reliant  surgeon  with  the  requisite  skill  and  nerve  for  the  multiple 
and  trying  duties  of  that  branch  of  the  profession.  He  is  a  generous, 
philanthropic  man  as  well,  one  whose  broad  humanitarianism  is  felt  by 
every  one  with  V\hom 'he  comes  in  contact,  and  whose  kind  face  genuinely 
expressive  of  interest  is  illumined  by  an  optimism  that  bids  the  most 
greatly  afflicted  to  hope,  and  the  consequent  mental  repose  of  the  patient 
is  an  instant  important  factor  toward  the  accomplishment  of  the  de- 
sired end. 

The  beneficence  of  Dr.  Roberts  is  not  confined  to  his  contact  with 
his  fellow  man  professionally,  but  is  characteristic.     Certainly  no  finer 


118  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

trilnite  could  be  paid  to  another  than  t'he  remark  of  one  of  Dr.  Roberts' 

friends  to  the  writer : 

"  I  have  known  Dr.  Roberts  for  nearly  forty  years  and  have  known 
hundreds  of  his  friends,  neig-hbors,  acquaintances  and  patients,  and  I 
have  yet  to  hear  the  first  word  impugning  his  integrity  as  a  man  or  his 
ability  as  a  physician." 

In  1900  Dr.  Roberts  took  into  partnership  association  a  nephew. 
Dr.  Fred  A.  Roberts,  and  has  since  given  freer  rein  to  the  aesthetic  side 
of  his  nature,  with  its  love  for  good  literature,  music  and  the  arts,  and 
enjoys  that  which  he  esteems  more  highly — the  opportunities  for  more 
frequent  association  with  his  friends.  Dr.  Roberts  was  the  first  Pitts- 
field  man  to  use  an  automobile,  erected  and  for  a  time  conducted  through 
a  representative  the  automol)ile  station,  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
spirits  in  the  founding  of  the  Berkshire  Automobile  Club. 

HON.  JOSEPH  TUCKER. 

One  of  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  of  the  families  of  \\'est- 
ern  Massachusetts  is  that  of  which  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces these  memoirs  is  a  member.  Four  generations  of  Tuckers 
have  resided  in  Berkshire  county  and  e^ch  of  these  generations  has 
included  one  or  more  indivifluals  wh(;^~e  careers  have  l)een  a  beneficence 
to  the  community.  An  extraordinary  and  perhaps  unparalleled  record 
of  public  service  is  included  in  the  interesting  annals  of  this  interesting 
family  in  that  for  seventy-seven  years  the  ofiice  of  register  of  deeds 
and  for  ninety  years  that  of  county  treasurer  were  continuously  held  by 
its  members,  and  the  duties  of  these  important  trusts  were  fulfilled 
with  an  unvarying  efticiency  and  integrity  th.at  speaks  in  no  uncer- 
tain way  of  an  ancestral  rugged  honesty,  indefatigable  in.lustrv,  an;l 
general  native  worth. 


BERKSHIRE  COrXTY  119 

Robert  Tucker,  the  founder  of  the  family,  was  in  Weymouth. 
Massachusetts,  in  1635,  from  whence  he  remoxed  to  (iloucester.  where 
lie  held  the  office  of  recorder,  later  returned  to  Weymouth,  where  he 
held  several  offices,  and  finally  settling  in  Milton,  Massachusetts,  at 
about  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  in  1662.  He  bought  one  hundred 
and  seventeen  acres  adjoining  land  previously  purchased  by  his  son 
James.  Mr.  Tucker  was  town  clerk  of  Milton  for  several  years,  a 
member  of  the  legislature,  and  prominent  in  the  church.  That  he 
was  a  man  of  decided  opinions  and  in  the  habit  of  expressing  them  is 
indicated  by  the  fact  that,  in  1640,  he  was  fined  for  upbraiding  a  wit- 
ness, and  calling  him  a  liar.  The  witness  was  afterward  hanged  for 
adultery.  Robert  Tucker  was  born  in  1604,  died  March  11.  1682.  aged 
seventy-eight  years.  His  wife  w'as  Elizabeth,  and  probably  Elizabeth 
Allen,  for  he  refers  to  his  brother-in-law,  Deacon  Henry  Allen,  in  his 
will,  althouffh  the  latter  mav  have  married  a  Tucker.  Thev  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children.     The  fifth  was 

Benjamin  Tucker,  born  in  Weymouth.  Massachusetts.  1646.  died 
Eeln-uarv  jy,  1713-14,  married  Ann  Payson.  daughter  of  Edw:ird  a:i  1 
Mary  (Eliot)  I'ayson,  of  Dorchester.  Mary  (Eliot)  Paysjn  was  a 
sister  of  Johr.  Eli<.t.  the  apostle  to  the  Indiims.  Mr.  TucI.er  settled  in 
Roxbury.  and  had  eleven  children.     The  first  was 

Benjamin    Tucker,    born    in    Roxbury,    Massachusetts,    March    <S. 

1670,  died    1728,  married   Sarah  .      He  married   for  his  second 

wife  Elizabeth  Williams,  born  in  R<ixl)ury.  October.  1.  1672.  daughter 
of  Stephen  and  Sarah  (Wise)  Williams,  and  granddaughter  of  Robert 
and  Elizabeth  (Stratton)  Williams.  Robeit  Williams  was  born  prob- 
al)1y  in  Xorwicb.  England,  about  1593.  He  came  to  America  in  1637. 
and  was  admitted  a  freeman  in  Roxbury.  May  2,  1638.  Benjamin 
Tucker   came  into  possession   of   part   of  the  bind   in   Spencer   ar.d  Lei- 


120  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

cester  which  his  father  had  purchased  from  the  Indians  in  1686.  He 
was  clicsen  constable  in  17  lo.  refused  to  ser\e,  and  was  fined  five 
pounds.     His  fifth  child  was 

Stephen  Tucker,  born  September  2;i^,  1704-05,  married,  May  31, 
1739.  Hannah  Parks.  He  married  (second),  1750,  Mary  Pike, 
daughter  of  Onesephorous  and  Mary  (Sanderson)  Pike,  probably  of 
Shrewsbury.  He  settled  in  Leicester,  Massachusetts,  and  had  five 
children  by  his  first  wife  and  eight  by  the  second.     One  of  these  was 

John  Tucker,  born  in  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  January  12. 
1772,  died  August  25,  1847,  married,  March  18,  1802,  Lucy  Newell, 
born  August  7,  1772,  died  March  18,  1830,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Lucy  (Dodge)  Newell.  Lucy  Dodge,  Mrs.  Tucker's  mother,  was  born 
in  Beverly,  Massachusetts.  1744.  and  died  in  Pittsfield ;  her  husband, 
Benjamm  Newell,  died  in  Kinderhook.  She  w'as  a  daughter  of  Joshua 
and  Margaret  (Conant)  Dodge.  Mr.  John  Tucker  settled  in  Lenox, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  was  an  attorney-at-law.  Plis  name  is  in  a 
list  of  Episcopalians  in  Lenox,  April  3,  1797.  He  was  register  of 
deeds  from  the  middle  district  of  Berkshire  county  from  1801  to  1847 
and  was  county  treasurer  from  1813  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease  in 
1847.     ^^^  ^'^''^s  the  father  of  seven  children.     The  second  was 

George  Joseph  Tucker,  born  in  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  October  17, 
1804,  died  in  Pittsfield.  in  September,  1878,  married,  in  Syracuse,  New 
York,  September  29,  1829,  Eunice  Sylvia  Cook,  born  in  New  Marl- 
boro, Massachusetts,  1807,  died  June  24,  1843.  daughter  of  Benpamin 
Warren  and  Louisa  (Kasson)  Cook,  and  granddaughter  of  Hezekiah 
and  Lydia  Cook.  He  married  (second)  at  Middletown,  Connecticut, 
August  5,  1845,  Harriet  Sill,  born  in  Middletown.  February  28,  1818, 
died  in  Pittsfield,  September  11,  1884,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Clarissa 
Sill,  and  granddaughter  of  Captain  Micah  Sill,  of  Lyme,  Connecticut. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  121 

Mr.  Tucker  g-raduated  at  Williams  College  in  1822,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1825.  and  was  an  attorney-at-law  in  Lenox.  He  was  register 
of  deeds  from  1847  to  1876.  excepting  three  years,  and  was  county 
treasurer  from  1847  "^'^^il  his  death.  He  had  four  children  by  his 
first  wife,  and  four  by  his  second.     His  first  child  was 

Joseph  Tucker,  the  immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs.  He  was 
born  in  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  August  21,  1832,  was  graduated  from 
Williams  College,  class  of  185 1,  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  under 
the  preceptorship  of  the  late  Hon.  Julius  Rockwell  and  continued  these 
studies  at  Harvard  Law  School  and  in  1854  went  west  with  the  ex- 
pectation of  pursuing  his  profession  there.  He  was  for  a  time  in 
Detroit,  Michigan,  and  subsequently  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  in 
1859  he  returned  to  Massachusetts  and  established  an  office  at  Great 
Barrington. 

The  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion  found  him  equal  to 
the  duty  of  the  hour.  He  enlisted  as  a  private,  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  D.  49th  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry, 
in  1862,  went  to  Louisiana  with  Banks'  Expedition  and  lost  his  right 
leg  at  Port  Hudson  while  a  member  of  the  staff  of  the  First  Brig-ade, 
First  Division,  Army  of  the  Gulf.  He  was  mustered  out  in  September, 
1863. 

From  early  manhood  his  services  have  been  sought  in  the  dis- 
charge of  various  public  trusts.  He  was  state  representative  in  i8r)5; 
state  senator  in  1866  and  1867;  United  States  register  in  bankrujitcy 
in  1867-8-9,  and  lieutenant  governor  from  1869  to  1873.  He  has  been 
since  1873  judge  of  the  central  district  court  of  Berkshire  county.  He 
was  chairman  of  Pittsfield's  school  committee  for  a  period  of  nine 
vears  ending  in    1004,  when  he  declined  re-election.      He  is  now  presi- 


122  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

dent  of  the  Pittsfield  Street  Railway  Company  and  president  of  the 
Berkshire  County  Savings  Bank,  succeeding  Judge  Rockwell. 

That  Judge  Tucker  has  been  fully  equal  to  these  diverse  and  im- 
portant responsibilities  is  abundant  evidence  that  the  mantle  of  worthy 
sires  is  worthily  worn  by  him.  With  peculiar  appropriateness  this 
honored  and  useful  descendant  of  an  honored  and  useful  familv  was 
moderator  of  the  last  annual  town  meeting  of  Pittsfield,  and  presided 
at  the  inauguration  of  Charles  E.  Hibbard,  first  mayor  of  the  City 
of   Pittsfield. 

Judge  Tucker  married,  September  20,  1876,  Elizabeth  Bishop, 
who  died  February  12,  1880,  daughter  of  Henry  W.  and  Sarah  (Buck- 
ley) Bishop,  and  granddaughter  of  Hon.  Nathaniel  Bishop,  of  Rich- 
mond, Massachusetts.  Nathaniel  Bishop  was  chief  justice  of  the  court 
of  sessions,  and  for  twenty  years  judge  of  court  of  common  pleas  for 
Western  Massachusetts.  He  died  February  i,  1826.  Henrv  W. 
Bishop,  who  died  in  Lenox,  April  13,  1871,  on  the  day  after  his  sev- 
enty-sixth birthday,  was  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  18 17,  opened 
a  law  office  in  Richmond  in  1821,  was  register  of  probate  for  twenty- 
five  years  from  1826,  and  judge  of  court  of  common  pleas  iov  several 
years  from  1850,  and  treasurer  of  Williams  College  for  twenty-three 
years  from  1847. 

GEORGE  FRANKLIN  HALL. 

It  was  a  material  loss  to*  western  Massachusetts  when,  as  an  am- 
bitious youth,  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  elected  to  seek  employment 
elsewhere  than  in  the  place  of  his  nativity.  As  a  descendant  of  one 
of  that  splendid  body  of  men  from  Lancashire,  England,  whose  brain 
and  brawn,  industry  and  integrity  have  been  potent  factors  in  our 
national  development,  the  capacity,  thrift  and  enterprise  which  were  his 


^^'''^//v/////.'^^i^!^^mf0^^/////'^^^ 


I'he  i.eiviii  Publishing  Co 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  123 

heritage  were  inevitably  destined  to  work  out  for  him  an  honorable, 
useful  and  successful  business  career.  The  story  of  his  lifework  has 
that  fascinating-  interest  that  always  obtains  in  the  narration  of  the 
achievements  of  men  who  have  been  the  absolute  architects  of  their 
own  fortunes.  He  was  a  son  of  Timothy  Hall,  who-  was  born  at 
Cummington,  Massachusetts,  in  180O',  and  who  died  at  Pittshell  No- 
vember 10,  1882.  Timothy  Hall  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  ^lerab 
Hall.  Thomas  Hall  spent  the  declining  years  of  his  life  in  Baltimore. 
He  died  when  his  son  Timothy  was  a  small  boy,  and  his  widow  re- 
married at   Chesterfield,   Massachusetts,   a   few   years   later. 

Timothv  Hall,  dissatisfied  with  existing  home  surroundings,  de- 
termined when  sixteen  year  of  age  to  enter  upon  the  serious  business 
of  life,  the  earning  of  a  livelihood — as  his  own  master.  He  accord- 
ingly went  to-  Cheshire,  where  he  was  variously  employed  for  ten 
years,  cultivating  a  small  farm  during  the  latter  part  of  this  period, 
and  then  located  at  Williamstown,  where  he  purcliased  a  farm.  He 
was  subsequently,  also,  one  of  the  i)roprietors  (jf  a  stage  line  to  Great 
Barrington.  He  was  best  known,  however,  as  a  pre-eminently  capable 
conserver  of  the  peace  and  dignity  of  Pittsfield,  where  his  joint  in- 
cumbency of  the  offices  of  constable  and  deput)-  sheriff  covered  the 
unprecedentedly  protracted  period  of  f(jrty-five  years.  He  was  a  cool 
and  judicious  officer.  Absolutely  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  his  often- 
times disagreeable  and  dangerous  duties,  he  was  a  positive  terror  to 
law  breakers  of  all  kinds.  All  good  citizens  esteemed  Timothy  Hall 
and  for  a  full  half  century  no  man  in  Berkshire  county  was  better 
known  or  more  highly  respected. 

George  Franklin  Hall,  eldest  of  the  children  of  Timothy  Hall,  was 
born  in  Williamstown,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  September 
17,    1828.      His   boyhood   and   youth   up   to   his    seventeenth   year    were 


124  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

spent  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  the  customary  experiences  of  the 
farmer's  son  of  miscellaneous  muscle-making  spring,  summer  nnd 
autumn  employment  and  winter  schooling  were  his.  He  had  a  markerl 
taste  for  mechanics  and  an  especial  interest  in  that  epoch-making  machine 
— 'the  locomotive — then  inceptively  revolutionizing  the  world's  trade 
interests.  In  1845  he  abandoned  the  plow  to  accept  employment  with 
the  Connecticut  River  Railroad,  which  he  served  with  characteristic 
zeal  and  intelligence  for  seventeen  years,  during  which  period  he  be- 
came an  expert  locomotive  engineer,  recognized  as  one  of  the  fore- 
most men  of  his  profession  in  New  England.  His  hand  w-as  at  the 
throttle  of  the  engine  that  drew  the  first  train  over  the  road  from 
Keene.  New  Hampshire,  to  South  Vernon,  Vermont.  It  was  in  1862 
that  Mr.  Hall's  railroad  career  was  terminated  by  an  accident  near 
Holyoke,  Massachusetts.  Rounding  a  curve  at  the  point  named  he 
was  horrified  to  discover  a  derelict  freight  train  a  few  rods  in  advance 
of  him.  and  instantly  reversing  his  engine  he  jumped  therefrom,  fall- 
ing upon  a  ledge  of  rocks  and  receiving  injuries  which  invalided  him 
for  more  than  a  year.  When  sufficiently  recovered  to  resume  work 
he  accepted  the  position  of  engineer  for  the  firm  of  Hall,  Bradley  & 
Company,  paint  manufacturers,  at  211  Centre  street,  New  York,  where 
a  further  interest  of  the  company  named  was  the  sub-letting  of  floors 
and  furnishing  of  power  to  manufacturers.  The  stationary  engine  in 
this  plant  was  the  largest  of  its  kind  that  had  up  to  that  time  been 
built,  and  had  been  exhibited  as  such  at  Crystal  Palace  Exposition, 
New  York.  In  keeping  with  his  fixed  habit  of  doing  thoroughly  well 
whatever  he  undertook,  Mr.  Hall  discharged  his  new  duties  with  such 
satisfaction  and  value  to  his  employers  that  at  the  end  of  his  first 
year's  service  he  was  presented  by  them  with  a  bonus  of  $500.  This 
connection  continued  until  1868,  when  Hall,  Bradley  &  Company,  seek- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  125 

ing"  larger  quarters  for  tlieir  manufacturing  purposes,  relocated  in 
Brooklyn,  offering  at  auction  sale  all  of  the  machinery,  helting.  etc.. 
in  the  Centre  street  establishment  save  that  which  was  used  by  them 
in  paint  manufacturing.  To  the  chagrin  of  the  firm,  which  had  fully 
expected  to  retain  his  services  in  the  new  Itjcation,  George  Franklin 
Hall,  who  had  determined  to  embrace  the  opportunity  of  entering 
into  business  for  himself,  became  the  purchaser  of  the  chattels  named 
and  the  lessee  of  the  premises.  Having  mastered  every  essential  detail 
of  the  power  furnishing  business,  Mr.  Hall's  venture  prospered  from 
the  outset.  The  building  known  as  211  Centre  street  is  one  of  the 
properties  of  the  Cruger  estate,  of  which  Mr.  S.  Van  Rensselaer  Cruger, 
comptroller  of  Trinity  Corporation,  assisted  in  administering'.  The 
latter  gentleman  having  the  highest  estimate  of  Mr.  Hall's  business 
capacity,  engineering  ability  and  integrity ,  appointed  him  in  1890  as 
consulting  engineer  for  Trinity  Corporation,  in  which  he  continued 
to  serve  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  being  invested  with  absolute 
authority  in  the  multiple  building  operations  of  this  great  corporation. 
During  this  period  Mr.  Hall  conducted  a  steam  power  furnishing  jilant 
in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  established  by  him  in  1888  and  operated 
successfully  in  conjunction  with  his  similar  New  York  enterprise  up 
to  1898. 

In  the  early  '90s  Mr.  Hall  also  embarked  in  the  business  of  operat- 
ing the  elevator,  electric  lighting  and  heating  plants  in  a  number  of  the 
great  business  structures  of  lower  Manhattan,  the  enter^jrise  in\-ol\ing 
in  numerous  cases  the  entire  charge  of  such  edifices.  This  lousiness  has 
developed  to  large  proportions  with  the  G.  F.  Hall  Compau}-,  and 
numerous  other  companies  and  indixiduals  are  now  engaged  in  this 
great  and  ever-increasing  industry,  in  which  George  i''ranklin  Hall  had 


126  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  distinction  of  being  the  pioneer  as  well  as  having-  scored  the  pre- 
eminently significant  success. 

In  1892  the  fertile  business  mind  of  Mr.  Hall  conceived  the  forma- 
tion of  a  company  to  undertake  the  construction  of  the  machinery 
equipment  of  the  rapidly-building  great  business  blocks,  and  the  "  New 
York  Steam  Fitting  Company"  was  incorporated  with  its  founder  as 
president  and  his  eldest  son,  George  Edward  Hall,  as  secretary  and 
treasurer.  This  business  was  subsequently  transferred  to  his  sons  Henry 
L.  and  Burton  P.  Hall,  under  whose  proprietorship  and  management  it 
has  grown  to  substantial  proportions. 

The  G.  F.  Hall  Company,  incorporated  in  1895  ^^'^^h  George  Frank- 
lin Hall,  president,  and  George  Edward  Hall,  secretary  and  treasurer, 
conducts  all  other  Ijusiness  interests  established  bv  the  late  George  F. 
Hall,  who  was  succeeded  upon  his  decease,  June  8,  1904,  in  both  pro- 
prietorship and  presidency  of  the  G.  F.  Hall  Company  by  Mr.  George 
Edward  Hall.  All  of  these  interests  have  New  York  headquarters  at 
211  Centre,  street. 

Mr.  Hall  had  a  Avinter  residence  in  Hancock  street,  Brooklyn, 
while  many  summers  were  spent  on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  at 
Pittsfield.  He  was  most  devotedlv  attached  to  the  county  of  his  nativ- 
ity, and  while  he  was  an  extensive  traveler  he  never  failed  upon  his  re- 
turn from  numerous  travels  in  this  country  and  abroad  to  gi\-e  en- 
thusiastic expression  of  his  preference  for  the  abounding  natural  beau- 
ties of  the  Berkshire  Hill  country  over  any  locality  which  he  had  vis- 
ited. 

A  favorite  summer  pastime  of  Mr.  Hall  in  his  later  years  was 
automobile  touring,  which,  in  keeping-  with  his  characteristic  of  doing 
to  the  best  possible  advantage  whatever  engaged  him,  he  accomplished 
in  the  best  machines  which  the  market  afforded.     He  was  a  valued  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  I'iT 

valuable  member  of  tlie  Berkshire  Automobile  Club,  which  voiced  the 
sentiment  of  the  entire  community  in  which  he  was  born  in  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  wliich  were  passed  upon  his  demise : 

"  In  the  sudden  and  untimelv  death  of  our  brother  and  friend, 
George  Frank  Hall,  Esq.,  the  members  of  the  Berkshire  Automobile 
Club  realize  that  they  have  been  bereft  of  the  society  of  one  of  its  most 
worthy,  honorable  and  highly  esteemed  charter  members.  His  fellow- 
ship reflected  credit  and  honor  upon  the  club  by  his  social  and  cordial 
attitude  towards  its  members,  by  his  judicious  counsels  and  co-operation. 
in  its  organization  and  maintenance,  and  l)y  his  liberal  contribution  to 
its  material  needs. 

"  The  sterling  traits  of  character  of  Mr.  Hall,  revealed  by  his  daily 
association  with  his  fellow  men,  displayed  a  type  of  grand  and  noble 
manhood  rarely  met  with,  worthy  of  the  emulation  of  younger  men 
as  a  model  for  the  guidance  of  a  useful  and  honorable  life. 

"  Be  it  Resolved,  That  the  club  rooms  be  draped  in  mourning  thirty 
days  as  a  token  of  sorrow  at  the  demise  of  our  late  brother. 

"  Be  it  Resolved.  That  the  profound  sympathv  of  this  club  be  ex- 
tended to  the  sons,  sister  and  other  relatives  of  the  deceased  in  their 
irreparable  loss. 

"  Be  it  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  sentiments  and  resolutions 
be  transmitted  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  a  copy  lie  spread  upon 
the  records  of  this  club. 

"  Oscar  S.  Roberts. 

''  Jno.  H.  Noble, 

"  Edward    H.    Bridgman, 

"Committee." 

Mr.  Hall  married  in  1849  ^lai'V  Monroe  Powers,  of  the  historic 
New  England  family  which,  gave  to  the  world  the  famous  sculptor, 
Hiram  Powers.  Mrs.  Hall  was  a  worthy  descendant  of  a  worthy  race, 
a  de\'oted,  self-sacrificing  mother  to  the  fi\'e  sons  whom  she  left,  and 
an  inspiration  and  helpmeet  in  all  that  that  word  implies  to  her  hus- 
band. She  died  in  June,  1901,  and  thus  Mr.  Hall  liad  more  than  a  half 
century  of  this  most  beneficent  of  associations.  To  those  who  were 
nearest  to  him  he  was  wont  to  ascribe  all  credit  for  any  success  which 
he  had  attained  to  the  good  counsel  and  encouragement  of  this  loving 


128  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  faithful  wife.  Their  eldest  son,  George  Edward  Hall,  who  was 
born  February  22,  1853,  married  Edna  C,  daughter  of  Charles  Seaman, 
and  has  two  children,  Clinton  and  Marion  H.  Hall.  Henry  L.  Hall, 
born  October  3,  1861,  married  Ida,  daughter  of  Noah  Redford,  of  New- 
port, Rhode  Island.  Burton  P.  Hall,  born  April  19.  1867.  married 
Bertha,  daughter  of  Horace  Packard,  of  Brooklyn,  and  has  a  son,  Clif- 
ford. Robert  E.  Hall,  born  March  15.  187 1,  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  H.  Lerned.  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Mary  and  Elizabeth.  The  youngest  son,  Harold  N.  Hall,  is  un- 
married and  is  an  architect,  practicing  his  profession  in  New  York  city. 
All  of  the  children  reside  in  and  near  Plainfield,  New  Jersey. 


CLINTON  OUACKENBUSH  RICHMOND. 

Among  the  citizens  of  North  Adams  whose  public  services  and  ]iri- 
vate  enterprises  have  been  alike  valuable  to  city,  county  and  common- 
wealth, the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs  may  be 
appropriately  numbered.  He  is  also  of  that  interesting  and  considerable 
group  of  men  in  Berkshire  county  whose  ancestors  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  New  England  and  who  proved  so  strongly  capable 
of  meeting  the  emergencies  of  pioneer  life  and  of  subsequently  declaring 
and  sustaining  their  independence  of  a  tyrannous  rule.  He  is  lineally 
descended  from 

John  Richmond,  who  was  one  of  the  first  purchasers  in  Taunton, 
Massachusetts,  in  1637,  and  died  there  March  20,  1664,  aged  seventy 
years.  Early  tradition  says  that  John  Richmond  was  from  Ashton 
Keyes,  a  parish  four  and  a  half  miles  from  Crichlade,  Wiltshire.  Eng- 
land, where  he  was  baptized  in  1597.    An  abstract  of  his  will  is  given  in 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  12l> 

"  New  England  Genealogical  and  Historical  Register/"  \^j1.  \'II. 
p.  i8o,  and  his  children  are  named.     One  of  his  descendants  was 

Edward  Richmond  1>orn  in  Tannton,  Massichnsetts,  1756.  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  war.     His  son  was 

Josiah  Richmond,  who  served  in  the  Plattsburg  campaign  during 
the  war  with  Great  Britain  in  181 2.  He  moved  with  his  family  from 
Pittston,  New  York,  to  Hoosick,  New  York,  and  kejjt  a  hotel  for  many 
years  on  the  old  stage  road  from  North  Adams  to  Troy.     His  son  was 

Albert  E.  Richmond,  born  in  Pittston,  New  York,  September  23, 
1819;  died  May  31,  1895.  Although  brought  up  in  the  hotel  business, 
he  gave  it  up  at  his  father's  death  and  entered  the  mercantile  luisiness 
at  Hoosick.  He  removed  to  North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  in  i860,  and 
purchased  the  Berkshire  House,  which  he  conducted  for  twenty -seven 
years,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time  when  he  kept  the  Mansion 
House  in  Troy,  New  York.  He  also  kept  the  Wilson  House  in  North 
Adams  for  a  few  years,  and  built  the  Richmond  House,  which  he  man- 
aged until  1887.  Mr.  Richmond  served  in  the  New  York  assembly, 
and  in  1888  in  the  Massachusetts  legislature,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
prudential  committee  of  the  fire  district  in  North  Adams,  and  of  the 
water  works  board.     He  was  a  member  of  the  North  Adams  Glub. 

Pie  married,  October  22,  1857,  Anna  AL  Ouacken])ush,  born  in 
Hoosick,  New  York,  in  1836  (for  genealog}'  see  Cebra  Ouackenbush^ 
this  work).  They  had  three  children:  Clinton  O.,  William  W.,  treas- 
urer of  the  Hoosick  Savings  Bank,  and  Grace  V.,  wife  of  T.  E.  Dore- 
mus,  of  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

Clinton  Quackenbush  Richmond,  born  December  17.  1859,  at  Hoo- 
sick, New  York,  graduated  from  Drury  high  school,  1877,  and  from 
Amherst  College  with  the  degree  B.  A.,  class  of  "81.  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  Society.  His  first  business  association  was 
with  his  father  in  the  conduct  of  the  Richmond  Hotel.  North  Adams. 


130  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

His  next  enterprise  was  the  establishing  of  a  plant  at  North  Adams  for 
the  manufacture  of  carbon  for  electric  lighting  apparatus,  and  this  busi- 
ness was  sufficiently  successful  to  challenge  the  interest  of  the  Thomson- 
Houston  Electric  Company,  which  purchased  the  same  and  removed  the 
plant  to  Fremont,  Ohio.  With  others  Mr.  Richmond,  in  1888,  pur- 
chased the  street  railway  line  between  Adams  and  Xorth  Adams,  then 
operated  with  horse  cars ;  an  electric  equipuient  was  installed,  and  the 
Hoosick  Valley  Street  Railway  Company  incorporated,  one  of  the 
earliest  of  the  electric  roads  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Richmond  served 
as  president  of  this  company  from  1888  txj  1902.  During  Mr.  Rich- 
mond's term  of  ser\ice  as  its  presiding  official  the  road  was  extended  to 
Williamstown  at  the  west  and  to  Cheshire  at  the  south,  at  the  latter 
point  connecting  with  lines  to  Pittsfield,  one  line  running  from  the 
latter  place  to  Great  Barrington  through  Lenox,  Lee  and  Stockbridge. 
Especially  substantial  contributions  to  the  architecture  and  business  of 
North  Adams  by  Messrs.  C.  Q.  and  W .  \V.  Richmond  were  the  erection 
of  the  New  Richmond  Hotel  and  Richmond  Theater,  both  of  which 
were  conducted  initially  by  them.  Mr.  Clinton  Q.  Richmond  was  espe- 
cially interested  and  assisted  in  securing  the  location  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  North  Adams,  and  rendered  service  also  in  securing  the 
necessary  appropriations  for  the  Greylock  Mountain  Reservation.  Mr. 
Richmond's  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Republican  party,  which  has 
called  his  services  into  recpiisition  to  numerous  offices  of  trust  and  high 
responsibility.  He  represented  North  Adams  in  the  state  legislature  in 
1896  and  1897,  serving  efficiently  on  numerous  important  committees, 
is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  state  board  of  education,  to  which  he 
was  appointed  in  1901  by  Governor  Crane  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
President  Carter  of  Williams  College,  and  reappointed  by  Governor 
Douglas  for  the  1905-13  term.     He  was  f(jr  nine  years  a  member  of  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  131 

North  Adams  scIkkjI  l):)ar(l  and  ad\ance:l  the  cause  of  education  locahy 
by  successfuHy  championing  many  wise  measures.  He  also  served  for 
a  period  as  president  of  the  North  Adams  board  of  trade. 

Mr.  Richmond  married  Hannah  AI.  Bates,  daughter  of  Ehsworth  N. 
Bates,  a  native  of  Cummington,  Massachusetts,  and  who  read  law  under 
the  preceptorship  of  the  late  Senator  Henry  L.  Dawes,  subsequently  re- 
moving to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  he  practiced  law.  He  was  captain 
in  Twentieth  Iowa  Volunteer  Infantry  during  the  civil  war,  and  ill 
health  engendered  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  resulted  in  his  demise  in 
1863.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  North  Adams,  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Richmond  have  a  son,  Clinton  Whitman,  born  October  22, 
1890,  and  a  daughter,  Mary  Quackenbush  Richmond,  born  November 
24,  1900. 

JOSEPH  HENRY  WOOD. 

Joseph  Henry  Wood,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Wood 
Brothers,  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  was  born  August  5,  1850,  in  Nails- 
worth,  a  suburban  district  of  Bristol,  Gloucestershire,  England,  son  of 
John  Pooley  W^ood,  who  located  in  i860  in  Pittsfield,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  shoe  manufacturing  business  for  six  years  with  Alvin 
Leffingwell  under  the  firm  name  of  Leffingwell  &  Wood.  In  1866  John 
Pooley  Wood  purchased  his  partner's  interest  in  the  establis-hmcnt,  and 
conducted  the  same  with  marked  success  during  the  long  period  of 
thirty-one  years.  He  early  won  and  always  retained  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens.  Since  1897  he  has  been  living  in 
retirement  in  Pittsfield.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Hemming,  also  a 
native  of  Gloucestershire.  She  died  in  1901,  leaving  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the  eldest 
of  the  children. 


132  .   BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Joseph  Henry  Wood  received  his  initial  schoohng  in  London, 
England,  a  tuition  which  was  supplemented  by  attendance  in  the  public 
schools  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  In  1882,  in  partnership  associa- 
tion with  his  brother,  William  P.  Wood,  he  became  established  in  busi- 
ness in  Pittsfield  for  the  sale  of  pianos,  organs,  music  and  musical  in- 
struments and  goods  generally,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wood  Brothers. 
From  an  extremely  modest  beginning"  the  business  developed  until  it 
became  the  leading  one  in  its  line  in  western  Massachusetts.  This 
magnificent  result  has  been  attained  by  dint  of  industry,  enterprise  and 
business  integrity.  Its  growth  has  necessitated  the  establishment  of  a 
branch  house  at  North  Adams,  and  for  a  long  period  the  two  stores 
practically  monopolized  the  music  business  of  Berkshire  county.  In 
advancing  the  musical  interests  and  cultivating  the  musical  taste  of  the 
people  of  this  community  the  firm  of  Wood  Brothers  has  been  a  most 
important  factor,  both  through  the  handling  of  instruments  of  superior 
make  and  in  securing  numerous  public  entertainments  by  distinguished 
artists,  vocal  and  instrumental.  ,\  further  business  connection  of  Mr. 
Joseph  H.  Wood  is  a  considerable  interest  in  the  Musgrove  Knitting 
Company,  manufacturers  of  cotton  and  worsted  underwear,  at  76  West 
street,  Pittsfield,  of  which  concern  Mr.  Wood  is  president.  He  is  also 
a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Spark  Coil  Company,  Pittsfield.  Mr. 
Wood  is  one  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  state  central  committee 
for  the  Protection  of  Fish  and  Game,  and  in  that  capacity  has  rendered 
valuable  service  to  the  state.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  citizens 
of  Pittsfield  to  urge  the  formation  of  what  was  originally  known  as  the 
Riverside  Rifle  and  Gun  Club,  with  which  and  its  successor,  the  Pitts- 
field Rod  and  Gun  Club,  he  has  had  almost  constant  official  connection 
since  its  formation  in  1875.  He  is  a  member  of  Crescent  Lodge,  F. 
and  A.  M.;  Berkshire  Chapter,   R.  A.  M.;  Berkshire  Council,   R.  and 


x^^^^T^^^^^^^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  133 

S.  M. ;  and  Berkshire  Commandery,  K.  T.  He  married,  January  20, 
1872,  Clara  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  and  Eliza  (Clark)  Dainty. 
Daniel  Dainty  was  for  many  years  a  highly  respected  merchant  of 
Pittsfield.  The  children  of  this  union  were  Clara  Mabel,  now  wife  of 
the  Rev.  John  M.  Harris,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Hoosic  Falls,  New  York;  the  Misses  Laura,  Maud,  and  Jessie  Alberta 
Wood,  the  latter  a  graduate  of  Pittsfield  high  school,  class  of  1903 ; 
and  Albert  William  Wood,  graduate  of  Pittsfield  high  school,  class  of 
1904.  Mrs.  Clara  M.  (Dainty)  Wood  died  November  2,  1893.  Two 
years  later  Mr.  Wood  married  Miss  Melvena  Frances  Nickerson,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Captain  Francis  and  Melvena  (Cook)  Nickerson,  of 
Provincetown,  Cape  Cod.  The  family  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  Pittsfield. 

WILLIAM  PORTER  W^OOD. 

I'he  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs  is  one  of 
Pittsfield's  substantial  business  men,  who,  notwithstanding  the  demands 
upon  his  time  of  a  great  and  growing  business,  has  ever  been  dominated 
by  a  desire  to  further  every  interest  and  influence  that  makes  for  public 
weal  and  whose  services  have  been  brought  into  requisition  frecjuently 
and  have  been  given  freely  and  efficiently  in  the  discharge  of  numerous 
and  diverse  private  and  public  trusts.  William  Porter  \Vood  was  born 
June  9,  1853,  ^^'^  Nailsworth,  Gloucestershire,  England,  son  of  John 
Pooley  Wood   (see  sketch  of  Joseph  Henry  Wood). 

W^illiam  P.  Wood,  second  of  the  children  of  John  Pooley  Wood, 
received  his  preliminary  schooling  in  London,  England,  and  this  was 
followed  by  attendance  upon  the  public  schools  and  Carter's  Business 
College  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  His  first  business  connection  was 
as  clerk  in  John  Breakey's  shoe  store  on  North  street.     He  then  learned 


134  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

shoemaking-  with  his  father,  and  this  association  continued  for  four 
years.  The  following  eight  years  found  him  in  the  employ  of  the 
AMieeler  &  Wilson  Sewing  Machine  Company,  for  six  years  of  which 
period  he  was  located  in  Berkshire  county,  for  one  year  in  Worcester 
and  for  one  year  in  Waltham,  Massachusetts.  He  then  accepted  the 
management  of  Cluett  &  Sons'  music  house  at  Pittsfield,  and  in  this 
connection  secured  the  foundational  practical  knowledge  which  with 
subsequent  similar  experience  and  employment  so  well  equippe;!  him 
for  the  business  which  he  with  his  eldest  brother,  Mr.  Joseph  H.  \Vood, 
established  in  1882  under  the  firm  name  of  Wood  Brothers  in  Pitts- 
field,  Massachusetts,  for  the  sale  of  pianos,  organs,  music  and  musical 
instruments  and  goods  generally.  From  an  extremely  modest  start  this 
business  has  developed  rapidly  and  is  now  the  leading  one  in  its  line  in 
western  Massachusetts.  This  magnificent  result  has  been  attained  by 
dint  of  industry,  enterprise  and  business  integrity.  Its  growth  has 
necessitated  the  establishment  of  a  branch  house  at  North  Adams,  and 
the  two  stores  combined  practically  monopolize  the  music  business  of 
Berkshire  county. 

William  P.  Wood  is  a  director  of  the  Wilcox  &  Wdiite  Company, 
of  Meriden,  Connecticut,  manufacturers  of  the  "  Angelus,"  the  best  of 
automatic  piano  players.  He  has  from  time  to  time  undertaken,  with 
other  public-spirited  citizens,  to  advance  the  business  and  general  inter- 
ests of  the  community  in  securing  the  location  of  various  manufacturing 
plants  in  or  near  the  county  seat.  In  advancing  the  musical  interests 
and  cultivating  the  musical  taste  of  the  people  of  Berkshire  county  the 
firm  of  Wood  Brothers  has  been  a  most  important  factor  both  through 
the  handling  of  instruments  of  superior  make,  and  securing  public  en- 
tertainments by  distinguished  artists,  vocal  and  instrumental.  William 
P.  Wood  was  president  of  the  Berkshire  County  Musical  Society,  which 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  135 

for  a  term  of  years  gave  annual  musical  festivals  wherein  such  soloists 
as  Nordica,  Blauvelt,  Watkins  Mills,  and  others  of  like  fame  were 
participants. 

Mr.  Wood  is  staunchly  Republican  in  his  political  prc^clivities  and 
has  given  unstintedly  of  time,  talent  and  means  to  secure  the  success 
of  his  partv.  His  services  have  been  in  constant  requisition  as  delegate 
tO'  conventions,  local,  county  and  state,  since  1888;  he  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  city  committee,  and  continuously  since  1898  as  member 
and  treasurer  of  the  county  committee.  In  1892,  as  a  resident  o\  the 
sixth  ward.  j\Ir.  Wood  was  sought  by  his  party  as  the  aldernrmic  can- 
didate most  likely  to  carry  that  Democratic  stronghold  which  up  to 
that  time  had  never  returned  a  Republican  to  the  board  of  aldermen. 
He  w-as  elected  to  that  board,  and  his  exceptionally  efficient  service  in 
claims  and  fire  department  committee  work  in  that  Ixxly  attestetl  the 
wisdom  of  his  constituents  in  their  choice  of  a  representative.  In  1896 
he  was  a  member  of  the  state  central  committee,  and  in  that  year  also 
was  nominated  for  the  office  of  county  commissioner,  to  which  he  was 
elected  by  the  flattering  majority  of  3,999.  He  was  re-elected  in  1899, 
and  again  in  1902.  As  count}-  commissioner  Mr.  Wood  and  his  asso- 
ciates ha^■e  succeeded  in  establishing  a  new  order  ol  things  in  the 
countv  buildings,  especially  in  the  improved  f"cilities  installed  for  their 
ventilation;  and  nijtably  in  the  substitution  for  a  i)roposed  exten.sive 
addition,  of  an  admirable  plan  of  re-arrangement  whereby  mucli  addi- 
tional space  needed  f(jr  the  transaction  of  the  imblic  Imsiness  was  gained 
at  a  saving  for  the  people  of  the  sum  of  v$50,C30.  The  county  debt 
has  been  reduced  $60,000  during  this  period  of  excellent  management 
with  no  ajjpreciable  addition  to  the  tax  rate.  b'raternally  Mr.  Wood 
is  a  member  x^f  Crescent  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.;  Berkshire  Chaj^ter. 
R.    A.    M.;    Berkshire    Council    and    Berkshire    Comnr'ndery.    Kniglits 


136  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Templar.  He  is  past  master  of  his  lodge:  past  high  priest  of  the  chap- 
ter; past  commander  of  the  commander\' ;  past  district  deputy  grand 
master  of  the  district,  and  past  district  deputy  grand  high  priest.  He 
is  past  chancellor  of  Berkshire  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  a  memher 
also  of  Royal  Arcanum,  and  past  master  workman  nf  Ancient  Order 
United  \\'orkmen. 

He  was  married  December  25,  1873,  to  Ida  M.,  daughter  of  Edwin 
Davis,  of  Pittsfield.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  have  two  sons  and  two 
daughters:  John  E.,  who  is  now  preparing  in  the  most  practical  way 
possible  for  ultimately  engaging  in  the  pian;)  business  bv  learning  piano 
making  in  the  Kranich  &  Bach  factory,  New  York;  George  E.,  clerk  in 
Pittsfield  National  Bank:  E.  Grace,  wife  of  A.  R.  Norton,  organist  of 
Simpson  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Brooklyn,  New^  York,  and  who 
have  one  child.  Ida  Laura  Norton;  and  Elizabeth  M.,  wife  of  A.  U. 
Brander,  ^■oc^l  te'cher.  New  Glasgow,  Nova  Scotia,  to  whom  has 
been  born  a  son,  \\'illiam  Wallace  Brander.  ]\Irs.  A.  R.  Norton  is  solo 
soprano  of  St.  James  Episcopal  church,  Brooklvn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood 
reside  at  48  Onota  street,  and  are  members  of  the  South  Congregational 
church. 

LAWRENCE  C.  SWTFT,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Lawrence  Chew  Swift,  lor  a  number  of  years  a  leading  phvsi- 
cian  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  was  of  excellent  ancestry,  numbering 
among  his  forebears  several  who  rendered  conspicuous  service  to  the 
patriot  cause  during  the  Revolutionary  period. 

Thomas  Swift,  the  founder  of  the  family  of  that  name  in  America, 
was  a  son  of  Robert  Swift,  of  Rotherham,  Yorkshire,  England.  The 
town  records  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  show  that  he  had  land 
granted  him  there  in  November,  1634,  was  admitted  freeman  in  1635. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  13T 

and  was  a  member  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wareham's  church  in  1636.  with  his 
wife  Elizabeth.  She  was  probably  a  daughter  of  Bernard  Capen.  who 
came  from  Dorchester.  England,  and  died  in  Dorchester.  Massachu- 
setts, November  8.  1638,  and  who  had  been  a  representative  several 
times,  and  was  prominent  in  public  affairs.  Thomas  Swift  held  many 
town  offices,  and  town  meetings  were  held  at  his  house.  He  had  ten 
children.     The  second  was 

Thomas  Swift,  born  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  June  17,  1635, 
died  at  Milton,  Massachusetts,  January  26,  1717-18.  He  married.  De- 
cember 9,  1657,  Elizabeth  Vose,  died  January  26,  1676,  daughter  of 
Robert  Vose,  of  Milton.  He  married  (second),  October  16.  1676.  Sarah 
Clapp,  who  died  February  4.  17 17-18.  He  received  land  in  Milton  from 
his  father-in-law  in  1659,  and  that  with  other  lots  was  the  original 
homestead  and  remained  in  the  family  until  1835.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  church  in  Dorchester,  and  a  founder  of  the  First  Church  in  Mil- 
ton, April  24.  1678,  and  became  a  deacon  August  20,  1682.  His  wife 
was  admitted  to  the  church  October  2,  1681,  by  letter  from  the  church 
in  Dorchester.  He  held  many  town  offices,  was  representative  and  a 
lieutenant,  and  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  Neponset  Indians. 
The  youngest  of  his  six  children  was 

Colonel  Samuel  Swift,  born  in  Milton,  December  10,  1683,  died 
October  13,  1747.  He  married,  November  6,  1707,  Ann  Holman.  who 
died  May  19,  1769,  daughter  of  Thomas  Holman,  of  ^lilton.  Colonel 
Swift  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  influential  men  in  Milton, 
was  a  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  colonel  of  militia,  representa- 
tive, and  selectman  for  .upwards  of  twent}-  \ears.  He  was  father  of 
eleven  children,  of  whom  the  fifth  was 

Sanuiel  Swift,  born  in  Milton.  June  <j.  1715.  <lied  August  30,  1775. 
He  married  in   1738,  Eliphal  Tilley,  born   February  7,    171 3,  daughter 


13S  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  Samuel  and  Eliphal  Tiller.  He  married  (second).  October  5,  1757, 
Ann  Foster,  born  October  3.  1729.  died  May  8,  1788,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Hopestill  and  Sarah  (Allen)   Foster. 

Mr.  Swift  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1735.  He 
studied  law  and  located  in  Boston,  and  soon  became  one  of  its  most 
influential  citizens.  His  zeal  and  resolution  led  many  Bostonians  to 
secrete  their  arms  when  General  Gage  desired  to  have  them  brought  in. 
and  he  presided  at  a  meeting  where  it  was  agreed  to  use  the  arms  and 
pitchforks  and  axes  in  an  attack  upon  the  British  troops  on  the  com- 
mon. General  Gage  heard  of  this  and  imprisoned  Mr.  Swift  and  others. 
His  incarceration  brought  on  a  disease  from  which  Mr.  Swift  did  not 
recover  and.  as  it  was  expressed  by  President  Adams,  "he  was  a  martyr 
to  freedom's  cause."     The  fifth  of  his  nine  children  was 

Dr.  Foster  Swift,  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  January.  1760. 
died  August  18.  1835.  He  married.  February  18,  1783.  Deborah  De- 
lano, born  September,  1762.  died  June  3,  1824,  daughter  of  Captain 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Delano,  of  Nantucket.  Mrs.  Swift  was  descended 
from  Philip  de  Launoy.  who  served  Charles  V  of  France  in  1543.  and 
whose  ancestry  has  been  traced  back  three  centuries  earlier.  Dr.  Swift 
began  to  study  medicine  in  1779,  and  about  1780  was  appointed  surgeon 
on  the  sloop-of-war  "  Portsmouth."  which  was  captured.  He  was  im- 
prisoned at  St.  Lucie,  and  escaped  with  others  after  remaining  there 
for  thirteen  months  by  capturing  a  vessel  lying  in  the  harbor.  In  No- 
vember, 1782,  he  went  to  Virginia,  carrying  a  letter  to  General  Wash- 
ington, who  gave  him  friendly  aid,  but  he  lost  his  health  and  returned 
to  Nantucket.  He  removed  to  Dartmouth  and  later  to  Taunton,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  until  1809.  when  he  removed  to  Boston.  He 
was  made  post  surgeon  in  the  army  and  died  while  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty  in  New  London.     Of  his  six  children  the  eldest  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY.  13:9 

General  Joseph  Gardner  Swift.  LL.  D..  burn  in  Nantucket,  Massa- 
chusetts, December  3,  1783,  died  July  23,  1865.  He  married,  June  6, 
1805,  Louisa  Margaret  Walker,  born  October  14.  1788,  died  Novem- 
ber 15,  1855,  daughter  of  Captain  James  Walker,  of  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina.  An  exhaustive  biographical  sketch  of  General  Swift,  who 
was  the  first  graduate  from,  the  National  Military  Academy,  West  Point, 
has  been  published.  He  ^vas  father  of  twelve  children,  of  wliom  the 
seventh  was 

McRee  Swift,  born  in  New  York,  April  15,  1819.  He  has  been  a 
successful  civil  engineer,  largely  engaged  in  the  construction  and  man- 
agement of  railroads  in  various  states  of  the  Union,  and  also  in  various 
important  manufacturing  enterprises.  He  married,  September  15.  1842, 
Abby  Hortense  Chew,  daughter  of  Thomas  John  Chew,  U.  S.  N.  Of 
this  marriage  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  the  fifth  was 

Lawrence  Chew'  Swift,  M.  D.,  born  February  24,  1852.  He  was 
graduated  in  1879  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of 
New  York  city,  and  in  1880  served  an  interneship  in  Charity  Hospital. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts. 

Dr.  Swift  was  married  April  16.  1884.  to  Miss  Mabel  Bruce  Grif- 
fith, daughter  of  Colonel  Joseph  M.  Griffith,  (^f  Des  Moines.  Iowa.  She 
died  and  he  married  (second),  on  June  2,  1806,  Miss  Mary  Gatch,  also 
of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.     Dr.  Swift  died  Jrme  i,   1905. 

HENRY  A.  FRANCIS. 

Henry  Almiron  Francis,  general  manager  and  treasurer  of  the 
Pontoosuc  Woolen  .  Company,  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  comes  of  an 
honorable  ancestry  dating  from  early  colonial  times.  He  was  born  in 
Pittsfield,  October  6,  1861. 

Robert  Francis  appears  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  in  165 1, 
where  he  died  January  2.  1712.     His  common  lot  in  Wethersfield  was 


140  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

No.  56.  He  was  surveyor  of  highways,  1675  ^^^  1685.  His  wife  was 
Joan,  whose  family  name  is  unknown;  she  died  January  29,  1705.  Their 
fourth  child  was 

Sergeant  John  Francis,  born  in  Wethersfield,  September  4,  1658. 
One  authority  says  he  died  February  18,  1708,  aged  fifty-three,  but  the 
New  England  Register   (Vol.  XVH,  p.  262)   gives  date  as  December 

28,  171 1.     He  married,  February  10,   1680,  Sarah ,  who 

died.  He  married  (second),  April  3,  1682,  Mercy  Chittenden,  born 
1662,  died  October  i^^,  1745-  aged  eighty-three.  He  had  fourteen  chil- 
dren by  his  second  wife.      The  eighth  was 

Robert  Francis,  born  in  Wethersfield,  January  29,  1697,  niarried 
Elizabeth  Butler.     They  had  five  children.     The  fourth  was 

Captain  William  Francis,  born  in  Wethersfield,  February  11,  1730, 
died  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  March  13,  1818.  He  married,  Octo- 
ber I,  1753,  Phebe  Woodhouse,  born  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  No- 
vember 26,  1730,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Dorothy  (Buck)  Woodhouse. 

He  probably  married    (second)    Huldah    . .,  who  died  in 

Pittsfield,  February  20,  1820,  aged  eighty-nine,  according  to  the  Pitts- 
field  Sun,  which  describes  her  as  his  relict.  He  was  an  early  settler  of 
Pittsfield,  was  appointed  a  fence  viewer  1761  ;  was  a  Revolutionary  sol- 
dier; was  on  the  town  list  1772,  with  a  family  of  nine  persons,  and  was 
on  the  census  of  1786.     He  had  six  children.     The  first  was 

Robert  Francis,  born  1755.  died  in  Pittsfield,  March  7,  1848.  He 
married  Sarah  Hubbard,  born  1761,  died  February  i,  1847,  ^ged  eighty- 
six,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Naomi  (Root)  Hubbard.  He  was  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier.     He  had  eleven  children.     The  first  was 

Daniel  Hubbard  Francis,  born  in  Pittsfield,  January  13,  1783,  died 
April  25,  1850.  He  married,  September  5,  1824,  Mahala  Chapman, 
born  September,  1784,  died  February  7,   1850,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  141 

Lucy  (Talcott)  Chapman.  He  was  one  of  the  fifteen  original  members 
of  the  Baptist  church  in  1850.     He  had  six  chikh-en.     The  second  was 

Deacon  Ahniron  Daniel  Francis,  born  May  11,  1807,  died  Decem- 
ber 12,  1899.  He  married.  April  17,  1829,  Lucy  Churchill,  torn  June 
12,  1799,  died  October  30.  1865,  daughter  of  John  and  Mehitabel  (Hub- 
bard) Churchill.  He  married  (second)  widow  Maiy  (Jackson)  Mer- 
rill, and  (third)  Mrs.  Margaret  B.  Ray.  He  had  three  children  by  his 
first  wife.     The  third  was 

James  Dwight  Francis,  born  in  Pittsfield,  December  it,,  1837,  died 
September  29,  1886.  He  married,  June  15,  1859,  Martha  J.  Tower,  of 
Lanesboro.  born  in  Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  May  9,  1838,  died 
August  29.  1882,  daughter  of  Justus  and  Emeline  (Talcott)  Tower. 
He  married  (second)  at  Arlington,  New  Jersey.  September  29,  1885, 
Anna  Maria  Fabricius,  of  Pittsfield,  born  May  9,  1864,  daughter  of 
George  and  Julia  (Mack)  Fabricius.  He  had  five  children:  i.  Henry 
Almiron,  born  October  6.  1861.  married  Agnes  Bartlett.  2.  George 
Dwight,  born  January  22,  1866.  died  March  zy,  1886.  3.  Frederick 
Tower,  born  November  21.  1869.  4.  Clifford,  born  March  3,  1872. 
5.    Robert  Talcott,  born  December  7,   1873. 

Henry  Almiron  Francis,  born  in  Pittsfield,  October  6,  1861,  mar- 
ried, June  6,  1894,  Agnes  Bartlett,  daughter  of  General  William  Fran- 
cis and  Agnes  (Pomeroy)  Bartlett.  He  is  general  manager  and  treas- 
lU'er  of  the  Pontoosuc  Woolen  Company,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  suc- 
cessful companies  in  western  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Francis  is  descended 
from  Robert  Bartlett,  who  came  from  England  before  1640,  and  settled 
at  Newbury,  Massachusetts,  ^\■here  he  died  before  1647.  Flis  son  Rich- 
ard, born  in  England,  had  .Samuel,  born  1646,  and  the  latter  had  son 
Thomas,  who  married  Sarah  Webster,  and  liad  Enoch,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Joshua  Bayley,  of  Haxerhill,  formerly  a  surgeon  in  the 


142  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

British  navy.  Bailey  Bartlett,  born  in  Haverhill,  1750,  was  a  meml)er 
of  the  legislature,  delegate  to  state  conventions,  member  of  congress,  and 
sheriff  of  Essex  county  nearly  forty  years.  He  married  Peggy  Wdiite, 
a  daughter  of  John  White,  Jr.,  and  a  descendant  of  William  White,  an 
early  settler  of  Haverhill.     Their  son  was 

Charles  L.  Bartlett,  who  married  Harriet  Plummer.  of  an  old  Essex 
county  famil}'.  He  was  a  commission  merchant  in  Boston.  He  had 
five  children.     His  only  son  was 

William  Francis  Bartlett,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Francis.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  soldiers  who  served  from  Massachusetts 
in  the  civil  war.  entering  the  army  April  17,  1861  (two  days  after  the 
capture  of  Fort  Sumter  by  the  South  Carolina  rebels),  while  a  junior 
at  Harvard  College,  becoming  a  captain  July  10,  same  year.  He  was 
in  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  October  24,*  1861,  and  distingiushed  him- 
self. At  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Virginia,  he  was  struck  by  a  rifle  ball, 
April  24,  1862,  and  lost  his  leg  in  consequence.  Recovering,  he  became 
colonel  of  the  Forty-ninth  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Infantry  Volun- 
teers, November,  1862;  sailed  for  New  Orleans,  January,  1863,  and 
later  marched  to  Port  Hudson,  where.  May  27,  he  led  his  regiment  on 
horseback,  the  only  mounted  man  on  the  field.  Three  months  later  his 
regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Pittsfield.  He  recruited  the  Fifty-seventh 
Infantry  Regiment  during  the  fall,  and  was  appointed  colonel  March 
28,  1864.  The  citizens  of  Winthrop,  where  his  father  lived,  presented 
him  a  sword.  He  was  again  wounded.  May,  1864,  at  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  in  Virginia.  In  June  he  was  promoted  brigadier  general, 
and  assigned  to  the  Ninth  Army  Corps.  At  the  storming  of  Petersburg, 
July  30,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  was  not  exchanged  for  two  months. 
In  June  and  July,  1865,  having  previously  been  out  of  health,  he  was 
made  commander  of  the  First  Division,  Ninth  Army  Corps,  near  Wash- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  143 

ing-ton,  although  not  entirely  recovered.  Six  months  later  he  was  given 
six  months'  leave  of  absence,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  July, 
1866.     He  was  brevetted  major  general  of  volunteers  ]\Iarch  13.   1865. 

General  Bartlett  married,  October  14,  1865,  Miss  Agnes  Pomeroy, 
of  Pittsfield,  and  had  six  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Francis  is  one.  He 
was  treasurer  and  general  manager  of  Pomeroy  Iron  Works,  at  West 
Stockbridge,  and  was  also  in  the  paper  business.  In  1873  ^"^^  1874  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  Powhatan  Iron  Company  at  Richmond.  Virginia. 
He  became  senior  warden  of  St.  Stephen's  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
in  Pittsfield  in  1871.  He  was  an  elociuent  speaker,  and  was  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him.  That  his  snlendid  military  services  were  appre- 
ciated by  the  people  of  his  native  state  has  been  shown  by  the  fact  that 
his  statue  is  to  be  placed  in  the  State  House  in  Boston,  executed  l;v  the 
celebrated  sculptor,  Daniel  Chester  French,  at  his  studio  in  Glendale, 
Berkshire  county. 

Mr.  Francis  is  also  descended  from  John  Churchill,  who  came  to 
Plymouth,  1643,  '^"'-1  married  (1644)  Hannah  Pontus,  daughter  of 
William  Pontus.  The)  had  a  son  John,  born  1652,  which  son 
married  (1672)  Sarah  Hicks,  and  had  Barnabas,  born  1686,  married 
Lydia  Harlow,  born  1689.  They  had  nine  children.  The  eighth  was 
Ebenezer  Churchill,  born  November  9,  1732,  married  Jean  Fisher.  They 
had  six  children.  The  fifth  was  John  Churchill,  born  June  23,  1763, 
died  in  Pittsfield,  January  8,  1849;  married  (1789)  Hitty  Hubbard,  born 
December  17,  1767,  died  September  i,  1843,  daughter  of  Deacon  James 
and  Martha  (Livermore)  Hubbard.  They  had  ten  chiklren.  The 
sixth  was  Lucy,  born  June  12,  1799,  married  Almiron  D.  Francis,  and 
they  were  the  grandparents  of  Henry  A.  Francis.  (For  the  Pomero}- 
ancestry  of  Mrs.  Francis  see  Theodore  L.  Pomeroy.) 


144  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

HON.  JOHN  CRAWFORD  CROSBY. 

Few  men  of  his  years  have  been  called  to  the  duties  of  as  many 
offices  of  large  responsibility  as  has  the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces these  memoirs,  and  none  could  have  discharged  those  duties  with 
more  efficiency  and  integrity.  His  official  career  has  included  services 
to  his  city,  county,  commonwealth  and  the  country  at  large,  and  this 
notwithstanding  the  demands  of  a  markedly  successful  legal  practice, 
which  latter  is  now  having"  its  natural  climacteric  in  his  occupancy  of 
the  bench  as  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts. 

John  Crosby,  grandfather  of  Judge  John   Crawford  Crosby,   was 
born  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  December  30,   1799,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  when  eleven  years  of  age  with  the  family  of  his  father, 
who  settled  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts.     John  Crosby 
became  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  that  locality,  with  a  large 
landed  estate.     He  married  Hannah  Curtis  (for  genealogy  see  "Curtis 
Family,"  this  publication),  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  one  who 
died  in  early  life,  John  Crosby,  and  Harriet,  who  married  Richard  Per- 
kins, a  farmer  of  Sheffield  and  a  Union  soldier  who-  met  his  death  at 
Winchester  during  the  Civil  war.     John  Crosby  (Sr.)  died  February  7, 
1886;  his  wife  December  30,  1892.     Their  son,  John  Crosby,  father  of 
Judge  Crosby,  was  born  in  Sheffield,  February  15,  1829,  received  such 
education  as  was  afforded  by  the  public  schools  of  the  day,  the  while 
assisting  in  the  cultivation  of  the  homestead  farm.     As  a  young  man 
his  services  were  sought  in  the  fulfillment  of  the  duties  of  numerous 
local  offices  and  shortly  after  attaining  his  majority  he  was  appointed 
deputy  to   Sheriff  Edward   F.    Ensign,  being  retained   in   that  capacity 
throuehout  the  administrations  of  Sheriff  Ensign  and  of  his  successors. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  145 

Sheriffs  Georg-e  S.  Willis  and  Graham  A.  Root,  a  period  covering  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  In  i860  Deputy  Sheriff  Croshy  removed  from 
Sheffield  to  Stockbridge,  and  while  at  the  later  place  was  chairman 
of  the  board  of  selectmen,  as  such  being"  activelv  identified  with  the 
raising"  of  troops  in  defense  of  the  Union.  In  1868.'  at  the  request  of 
Sheriff  Root,  Deputy  Crosby  took  up  his  residence  in  Pittsfield,  where 
he  continued  to  live  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease.  December  17,  1902. 
He  was  appointed  in  1875,  ^^Y  Governor  Gaston,  a  member  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts state  detecti^'e  force,  an  office  which  he  held  for  several  years, 
during  his  incumbency  rendering-  conspicuous  service  in  some  of  the 
most  important  criminal  cases  that  had  been  tried  up  to  that  time.  He 
was  for  several  years  one  of  Pittsfield's  board  of  assessors,  and  his 
services  were  frequently  called  into  recjuisition  as  administrator  and 
executor  in  the  settlement  of  estates. 

In  1886  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Berkshire  county,  re-elected 
thereto  in  1889,  and  again  in  1892,  serving  three  full  terms  of  three 
years  each.  An  onerous  duty  which  devolved  upon  him  as  sheriff'  was 
the  carying  out  of  the  sentence  of  execution  of  William  Coy  for  the 
atrocious  murder  of  John  Whalen.  During  his  term  of  service  as 
sheriff  each  grand  jury  at  its  sitting  of  the  court  reported  after  due 
inspection  of  the  jail  and  house  of  correction  an  excellence  of  condition 
and  efficiency  of  management  of  both  institutions,  the  especial  charges 
of  the  sheriff.  It  has  been  said  of  Sheriff  Crosby  that  he  "  knew  everv 
man.  woman  and  child  in  Berkshire  county;"  it  is  certain  that  he 
enjoyed  and  merited  a  large  measure  of  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  him. 

He  married,  February  ly,  1858,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Anna    (Mclndoe)    Crawford,   both  natives  of  Scotland,  and  resi- 


146  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

dents  for  many  years  of  the  city  of  New  York,  where  Mr.  Crawford 
was  a  contractor  and  bnilder. 

John  Crawford  Crosby  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  June  15,  1859,  attended  the  pubhc  and  high  schools  of 
Pittsfield,  and  was'  graduated  from  Eastman's  Business  College,  Pough- 
keepsie,  New  York,  in  1878;  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Hon.  Marshall  Wilcox,  of  Pittsfield,  and  was  graduated  from  the  law 
department  of  Boston  University  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1882.  He 
established  himself  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Pittsfield  under 
especially  favorable  auspices  for  ten  years ;  he  occupied  offices  with  the 
late  United  .States  Senator  Henry  L.  Dawes,  and  from  1894  to  1905 
was  in  partnership  association  with  John  F.  Noxon,  the  present  district 
attorney.  Summed  up  briefly.  Judge  Crosby's  professional  career  may 
be  said  to  have  been  successful  both  in  the  extent  and  character  of  his 
practice,  the  partnership  association  especially  being  prolific  of  a  pat- 
ronage and  lucrativeness  of  practice  second  to  none  in  Berkshire  county. 

Judge  Crosby  is  a  Democrat  of  the  stalwart  type  and  has  rendered 
valiant  service  thereto  in  every  campaign  from  the  attainment  of  his 
majority  up  to  ■  the  date  of  his  accession  to  the  state  judiciary.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  Pittsfield  school  committee  from  1884  to 
1890;  was  a  representative  in  the  state  legislature  in  1886  and  1887, 
serving  on  the  rules  and  railroads  committees;  following  which,  in 
1888  and  1889,  he  was  state  senator,  serving  as  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Probate  and  insolvency,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  mer- 
cantile affairs,  and  as  a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee.  During 
his  senatorial  career  it  devolved  upon  him  to  secure  the  city  charter 
for  Pittsfield. 

In  1890  he  was  elected  as  the  Democratic  candidate  to  the  Fifty- 
second  Congress  from  the  then  Twelfth   Massachusetts   Congressional 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  147 

District.  During  this  term  he  was  present  at  every  roll  call  and  intro- 
duced more  bills  and  petitions  than  any  other  member  from  Massachu- 
setts. He  sensed  on  military  affairs  and  post-office  and  post  roads 
committees,  taking-  an  especially  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  latter 
and  securing  the  passage  of  various  bills  for  the  improvement  of  the 
postal  service.  He  was  defeated  for  re-election  in  1892  by  a  plurality 
of  less  than  200  out  of  a  total  of  35,111  votes. 

He  was  elected  third  mayor  of  Pittsfield  for  two  terms,  1894  and 
1895,  an  administration  which  was  marked  by  diverse  and  important 
public  improvements ;  during  this  period  the  central  station  of  Pitts- 
field  fire  department  was  erected  and  thoroughly  equipped;  the  beautiful 
high  school  building  constructed,  and  the  Redfield,  Russell  and  Briggs 
schools  built.  It  was  Mayor  Crosby  who  appointed  the  first  board  of 
license  commissioners.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  national 
convention  which  in  1896  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  nominated  William 
Jennings  Bryan  for  the  presidency.  He  was  elected  city  solicitor  of 
Pittsfield  and  served  as  such  from  1899  to  1903,  inclusive.  He  was 
Democratic  candidate  for  attorney  general  of  Massachusetts  in  1901 
and  was  defeated,  and  defeated  again  in  1904  as  candidate  for  lieutenant 
governor  on  the  ticket  with  William  L.  Douglas,  who  was  elected  gov- 
ernor by  a  majority  of  35.000.  Although  defeated  by  18,000  votes,  Mr. 
Crosby  led  the  remainder  of  his  ticket  by  8,000. 

He  was  appointed  one  of  the  justices  of  the  superior  court  of 
Massachusetts  by  Governor  Douglas  and  unanimously  confirmed  by  a 
Republican  council,  JanuaiT  25,  1905.  He  was  for  several  years  mem- 
ber at  large  of  the  Democratic  state  committee,  resigning  that  office 
upon  his  appointment  to  the  justiceship.  A  political  organization  of 
which  he  was  a  member  and  first  president,  and  in  which  he  took  an 
especial  pride  and  interest,  was  the  Young  ]\Ien's  Democratic  Club  of 


148  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Massachusetts,  the  well  directed  efforts  of  which  are  generally  conceded 
to  have  resulted  in  the  election  for  three  consecutive  terms  of  William 
E.  Russell  as  governor  of  the  commonwealth.  He  declined  a  re-election 
as  president  of  this  cluh  because  of  his  election  to  Congress. 

Judge  Crosby  married,  February  4,  1897,  Henrietta,  daughter  of 
the  late  Captain  Nathan  Richards  of  New  London,  Connecticut.  Mrs. 
Crosby  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Elder  William  Brewster,  and  numbers 
among  her  direct  and  collateral  ancestral  connections  numerous  of  the 
most  interesting-  descendants  of  the  early  colonial  settlers  (including 
Roger  Williams),  some  of  whom  bore  arms  for  the  mother  country 
in  the  French  and  Indian  war  and  against  her  in  the  wars  of  the  Revo- 
lution and  of  181 2. 

THEODORE  POMEROY. 

The  family  from  which  was  descended  Theodore  Pomeroy,  late  of 
Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  claim  descent  from  Sir  Ralph  de  Pomeroy,  a 
knight  of  William  the  Concjueror,  and  received  lands  in  Devon  and 
Somerset.  In  Devon  the  ruins  of  the  castle  of  Berry  Pomeroy  may 
still  be  seen. 

Eltweed  Pomeroy  was  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  in  1630,  and 
probably  came  over  in  the  "  Mary  and  John."  He  settled  in  Windsor, 
Connecticut,  in  1638.  His  wife  died  in  1655,  and  he  married  (second) 
Lydia,  widow  of  Thomas  Parsons,  and  in  1672  removed  to  Northamp- 
ton to  live  with  his  son  Medad,  and  died  there  in  March,  1673.  He  had 
three  children  born  in  Dorchester,  and  five  in  Windsor,  Connecticut. 
The  fourth  was 

Medad  Pomeroy,  who  was  baptized  in  Windsor,  August,  1638,  died 
December  30,  171 6.  He  married,  November  21,  1661,  Experience 
Woodward,  daughter  of  Henry  Woodward.     She  died  June  8,    1686. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  149 

He  married  (second)  September  8,  1686,  widow  Abigail  Chauncey. 
She  died  April  15,  1704.  He  married  (third)  widow  Hamiah  Noble. 
He  was  town  clerk  of  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  for  several  years, 
a  deacon  in  the  church,  and  representative  six  times  between  1677  and 
1692.     His  fourth  son  by  his  first  wife  was 

Ebenezer  Pomeroy,  born  in  Northampton,  May  30,  1669.  He  was 
known  as  Major  Pomeroy,  and  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the 
settlement  of  Sheffield,  in  Berkshire  county,  and  was  prominent  in 
establishing  the  Indian  mission  at  Stockbridge.  As  King's  attorney  he 
acted  in  the  trial  of  some  Indians  for  murder  in  1696.     His  son  was 

Colonel  Seth  Pomeroy,  who  was  a  manufacturer  of  fire-arms  and 
an  officer  in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revo- 
lution the  first  Provincial  Congress  appointed  him  one  of  four  briga- 
diers, but  he  declined  the  honor,  serving  as  a  volunteer  at  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  Later  he  served  as  a  colonel,  and  died  in  February,  1777, 
at  Peekskill,  New  York,  while  in  command  of  the  post  there.  His  son 
was 

Lemuel  Pomeroy,  who  lived  on  the  original  grant  of  Southampton. 
His  son  was 

Lemuel  Pomeroy,  born  in  Southampton,  Massachusetts,  August 
18,  1778,  died  August  25,  1849.  He  was  first  married  in  1796,  and  lost 
his  wife  and  child  in  less  than  a  year.  He  married  (second),  in  1800, 
Hart  Lester,  of  Griswold,  Connecticut,  born  1781,  died  August  12,  1852, 
in  her  seventy-first  year.  Mrs.  Pomeroy  was  admitted  to  the  Union 
Church  in  1809  as  an  original  member.  She  was  probably  descended 
from  Andrew  Lester,  who  first  appears  at  Gloucester,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  was  licensed  to  keep  a  house  of  entertainment,  February  26, 
1648-9.  He  had  four  children  recorded  there,  and  removed  to  New 
London,  Connecticut,  in  1651.     He  married  three  -times. 


150  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Mr.   Pomeroy  came  to  Pittsfield  in  1799,  and  bought  the  Bement 
place  on  East  street,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Miss  Mary  J.  Cooley, 
daughter  of  the  late  William  B.  Cooley.     In  1800  he  bought  the  lot  of 
eleven  acres  on  the  opposite  side  of  East  street,  extending  eighty  rods 
from  the  John  C.  Williams  place,  now  St.  Stephen's  rectory,  to  Mrs. 
Ensign  H.  Kellogg's  place.     Pomeroy's  lane   (now  Pomeroy 's  avenue) 
was  laid  out  and  a  workshop  built  on  the  east  corner,  where  Mr.  Pom- 
eroy advertised  general  blacksmithing,  sleighs,  wagons  and  plows.     His 
shop  burned  down  in  1805,  and,  building  a  larger  one,  he  soon  began 
to  make  muskets  exclusively.      In    1808  he  bought  the  forge  built  in 
1806  by  Jason  Mills,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Taconic  Mills,  and  soon 
made  two  thousand  muskets  a  year,  and  from  18 16  to  1846  had  a  con- 
tract with  the  United  States  government,  renewing  it  every  five  years. 
Besides  supplying  the  government,  he  turned  out  about  two  hundred 
muskets  a  year  for  general  use.     In  1823  he  put  up  a  brick  building, 
adding  a  trip-hammer  shop  in  1828.     The  muskets  were  finished  at  the 
shop  at  the  corner  of  East  street  and   Pomeroy's  lane.     He  gave  up 
making  muskets  in  1846,  when  the  government  adopted  the  percussion 
musket  and  established  the  armory  at  Springfield,  Massachusetts.     In 
1826  he  bought  the  United  States  cantonment  grounds  of  twenty  acres 
for  $760,  removed  the  barracks,  and  erected  the  three  brick  buildings 
used  first  by  his  son-in-law,  Professor  Chester  Dewey,  for  a  seminary 
for  young  men,    called   the    Berkshire   Gymnasium,   which   was   incor- 
porated in  1829.    After  1836  the  buildings  were  occupied  by  the  famous 
Maplewood  Young  Ladies'  Institute,  and  now  form  part  of  the  Maple- 
wood  Hotel,  one  of  the  leading  summer  hotels  of  Berkshire  county. 

Mr.  Pomeroy  was  prominent  in  all  local  affairs.  He  did  much  to 
secure  the  location  of  the  Western  Railroad,  now  the  Boston  &  Albany 
division  of  the  New  York  Central  &  Hudson  River  Railroad,  and  was 


BERKSHIRE  CO  UNTY  151 

a  director  of  the  AgTicnltiiral  Bank  from  1825  to  1848.  He  was  also  a 
director  of  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  from  1839  until  his  death. 
He  first  engaged  in  the  woolen  business  in  18 17,  taking  a  lease  of  mills 
that  had  not  been  profitable  to  the  owners,  and  held  the  lease  until  1824, 
when  he  associated  himself  with  a  distant  kinsman,  Josiah  Pomeroy, 
the  firm  being  Josiah  Pomeroy  &  Co.  They  bought  out  the  old  stock- 
holders gradually,  and  by  1827  had  become  owners  of  the  property, 
which  included  the  land  for  one  mile  along  the  Housatonic  river.  In 
1830  Mr.  Pomeroy  bought  out  the  interest  of  Josiah  Pomeroy,  and  took 
into  the  firm  his  sons  Theodore,  Robert  and  Edward,  as  Lemuel  Pom- 
eroy &  Sons,  and  they  conducted  a  successful  business  for  ten  years, 
making  satinets  and  other  fabrics.  In  1852  the  Pomeroy  brothers  built 
a  larger  mill.  Theodore  was  the  business  manager,  and  Robert  was 
connected  with  the  firm  until  his  death.  Lemuel  Pomeroy  had  eleven 
children.     The  eighth  was 

Theodore  Pomeroy.  born   September  2,   18 13,  baptized  November 

24,  1813,  died  September  26.  1881.  He  married,  at  Utica,  New  York, 
September  14,  1836,  Fanny  Smith  Bacon,  daughter  of  Hon.  Ezekiel  and 
Abbie  (Smith)  Bacon.  She  died  in  New  York  city,  January  30,  185 1, 
and  he  married  (second),  at  Pine  Plains,  New  York,  October  7,  1852, 
Mary  E.  Harris,  daughter  of  Colonel  Silas  H.  and  ]\Iaria  E.  Harris. 
She  died,  and  he  married  (third),  February  i,  1866,  Miss  Laura  C. 
Knapp,  of  New  York,  born  at  Newbuiyport,  jMassachusetts,  February 

25,  183 1,  died  in  Pittsfield,  October  29,  1890. 

Mr.  Pomeroy  was  admitted  to  the  church  in  1832.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  school  of  his  brother-in-law.  Professor  Dewey,  previously 
alluded  to,  and  learned  the  woolen  business  from  the  foundation  in  his 
father's  factory.  His  father  arranged  to  have  his  woolen  business  car- 
ried on  by  his  sons  Theodore,  Ivobert  and   lulward,  as  L.   Pomeroy's 


152  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Sons,  but  the  two  latter  named,  not  liking  the  business  as  well  as  Theo- 
dore, sold  him  their  interest.  Mr.  Pomeroy  was  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector in  the  Pittsfield  Bank  from  its  incorporation,  and  a  director  in 
the  Berkshire  Life  Insurance  Company  until  his  health  failed.  He  held 
a  controlling  interest  in  the  Greylock  Mills  at  North  Adams  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  was  especially  generous  and  open-hearted,  and  was 
always  to  be  relied  upon  to  aid  in  all  movements  for  the  promotion  of 
the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the  town.  He  had  several  children. 
His  son  by  his  third  wife  was  Theodore  L.  Pomeroy,  now  living  in 
Pittsfield. 

Robert  Pomeroy,  born  June  30,  181 7,  baptized  June  20,  18 18,  died 
December  12,  1889.  He  married  Mary  C.  Jenkins,  born  in  Hudson, 
New  York,  July  31,  1820,  died  August  22,  1889,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Sarah  Jenkins.  He  and  his  wife  were  admitted  to  the  church  in 
1843.  1"^^  lived  in  the  old  homestead  on  East  street,  which  has  been  torn 
down  since  his  death.  He  had  several  children,  of  whom  one  was  Agnes 
Pomeroy,  who  married  General  William  Francis  Bartlett,  and  their 
daughter  Agnes  became  the  wife  of  Henry  A.  Francis.  (See  Sketch  of 
H.  A.  Francis,  in  this  work.) 

EDWARD  DORR  GRIFFIN  JONES. 

The  significant  business  successes  are  achieved  by  men  who  have 
the  wit  to  use  and  the  wisdom  to  grasp  opportunity. 

A\'hen  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs  found 
himself  at  East  Lee,  Berkshire  county,  a  half  century  since  environed 
by  a  network  of  paper  mills,  and  foresaw  the  giant  strides  which  this 
industry  was  inevitabh'  destined  to  take,  he  added  to  his  modest  milling 
establisliment  tlie  necessary  equipment  to  embark  in  a  small  way  in  the 


^e     /^   Jr^^-^'^i^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  153 

making  of  paper  mill  machinery.  In  keeping  with  his  habit  of  doing 
thoroughly  well  whatever  he  undertook  he  speedily  acquired  the  repu- 
tation among  the  neighboring  manufacturers  of  an  ability  and  integrity 
in  carrying  out  to  the  letter  and  with  expedition  such  contracts  as  were 
entrusted  to  him,  and  to  this  local  recognition  was  steadily  added  an 
ever  increasing-  patronage  until  his  company  had  attained  high  national 
rank,  and  numbered  among  its  patrons  leading  paper  manufacturers  of 
the  United  States,  France,  Sweden,  Canada.  China  and  Japan. 

The  exacting  demands  of  a  great  and  growing  business  did  not 
deter  Mr.  Jones  from  giving  much  of  his  time  and  splendid  business 
ability  to  the  community  in  which  he  lived,  and  this  he  was  impelled 
to  do  solely  through  good  citizenship,  and  not  for  either  emolument  or 
fame,  for  his  public  service  was  largely  without  remuneration  and  he 
was  essentially  a  modest  man  and  without  aspiration  for  any  character 
of  notoriety. 

With  his  growing  success  as  a  manufacturer  J\Ir.  Jones  found  a 
necessity  for  seeking  fields  for  investment  and  thus  became  interested 
in  various  local  financial  institutions,  and  here  the  wisdom  of  his  coun- 
sel found  frequent  test  and  his  services  upon  numerous  directorates 
were  brought  into  requisition. 

Nor  did  he  neglect  the  social  duties  of  life,  fraternizing  with  and 
being  appreciated  by  the  best  men  of  his  community.  He  stood  high 
in  Masonic  circles  and  was  a  consistent  and  valuable  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  in  short  a  Christian  gentleman, 
measuring  up  to  that  full  stature  in  every  responsibility  assumed  by  or 
thrust,  upon  him. 

He  was  born  September  22,  1824.  in  Otis,  Berkshire  county,  Mas- 
sachusetts, of  which  place  his  grandfather  Adonijah  Jones  is  enumerated 
as  one  of  the  first  settlers.      (See  "  A  History  of  Berkshire  County" 


154  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

— 1829.)  The  latter  was  of  Welsh  descent  and  was  born  August  20, 
1748,  and  died  December  18,  1820.  His  wife,  who  was  Ann  McElwain, 
was  born  February  27,  1753,  and  died  December  18,  183 1.  Of  their 
children  Eber  Jones,  father  of  the  im.mediate  subject  of  these  memoirs, 
was  born  June  7,  1787,  and  died  April  4,  i860.  The  wife  of  Eber 
Jones,  Betsey  (Pelton)  Jones,  was  born  April  20,  1794,  and  died  April 
13,  1886.  The  latter  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Woodworth)  Pelton,  the  former  (a  Revolutionary  soldier)  born  May 
9,  1757,  died  January  28,  1849;  ^'''s  wife,  born  June  21,  1761,  died 
March  19,  1848.  The  other  children  of  Eber  and  Betsey  (Pelton)  Jones 
were  Orville  Orlando  Jones,  born  June  18,  1814,  died  October  26,  1902; 
Samuel  Pelton  Jones,  born  January  17,  181 7,  and  now  living  in  San 
DiegX),  Cahfornia;  Mary  Eliza  (Jones)  Barker,  born  June  2,  1819, 
died  September  14,  1885;  Eber  Loomis  Jones,  born  May  13,  1827,  died 
in  childhood,  and  Harley  Leander  Jones,  bom  August  30,  1831,  died 
November  30,  1876. 

Eber  Jones  removed  from  Otis  with  his  family  to  engage  in 
business  as  a  jcAveler  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  during  the  childhood  of 
their  son  Edward,  and  there  the  latter  received  his  initial  schooling. 
The  family  subsequently  located  upon  a  farm  at  Wellington,  Ohio, 
where  Edward  assisted  in  the  cultivating"  of  the  paternal  acres  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  returned  to^  his  native  county  and 
there  learned  the  trade  of  millwright  with  his  uncle  Timothy.  Always 
capable,  industrious  and  economical,  he  was  able  in  a  few  years  to  estab- 
lish himself  in  business,  an  important  and  profitable  early  part  of  which 
was  as  agent  for  the  sale  of  turbine  wheels  manufactured  by  the  James 
Leffell  Company  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  The  addition  of  the  business  of 
equipping  paper  mills  and  the  manufacture  of  paper  mill  machinery 
was  added,  as  above  mentioned,  and  soon  became  the  feature  and  eventu- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  155 

ally  the  exclusive  manufacturing-  interest.     He  sold  bis  East  Lee  inter- 
ests in  1866  to  Henry  Couch  and  Freeland  Oakley   (former  employe), 
and  immediately  thereafter  formed  a  Pittsfield  connection  for  the  same 
class  of  manufactures,  which  eventuated  in  the  present,  the  E.  D.  Jones 
&  Sons  Company,  in  which  he  continued  to  be  engaged  up  to  the  time 
of  his  decease,  December  30,  1904.     Of  this  company  he  was  president- 
and  director;  vice-president  and  director  of  the  Third  National  Bank 
of  Pittsfield;  president  and  director  of  the  Central  Block  Corporation; 
vice-president  of  the  Co-operative  Bank;   director  of  the  Keith   Paper 
Company,  of  Turner's  Falls,  Massachusetts.     He  was  a  member  of  the 
Park  Club  of  Pittsfield ;  of  Berkshire  Commandery,  Knights  Templar, 
and  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason.     He  was  one  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  his  church  and  a  lifelong  and  stalwart  member  of  the  Republican 
party. 

His  political  career  had  its  inception  in  1879-80,  when  he  accept- 
ably represented  the  third  Berkshire  district  in  the  legislature.  He 
was  returned  to  the  state  senate  in  1886-87,  where  he  again  rendered 
efficient  service.  His  conspicuously  valuable  public  service,  however, 
was  as  a  member  of  Pittsfield's  board  of  public  works  (1891-99),  of 
which  body  he  was  chairman  during  the  years  which  marked  a  period 
of  most  important  development  in  the  county  seat,  viz.,  the  installation 
of  its  sewerage  system.  To  this  work  he  gave  the  best  thoughts  of 
his  well  matured  practical  mind  and  his  associates  freely  accord  to  Mr. 
Jones  the  credit  in  large  measure  for  the  splendid  results  accomplished 
for  the  municipality  in  that  connection. 

Mr.  Jones  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
wedded  November  10,  1849,  was  Nancy  E.  M.,  daughter  of  Francis 
and  Zilla  Breckenridge.  Mrs.  Jones  died  leaving  one  child,  Italia  N. 
Jones,  who  was  born  February  5,  1853;  married  April  9,  1874,  Everett 


156  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

G.   Goodell,  by  whom  she  had  one  child.  Lena  J.   Goodell,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Mrs.  Goodell  died  December  25,  1893. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Jones,  October  20,  1858,  was  to  Ar- 
dilla  H.,  daughter  of  Levi  W.  and  Mercy  (Hamblin)  Herrick.  Ardilla 
(Herrick)  Jones  was  born  June  30,  1836,  and  died  April  6.  1866,  leav- 
ing two  children,  Harley  Eber  and  Edward  Archie  Jones.  (See  sketch, 
this  publication.)  Harley  Eber  Jones  was  born  September  24,  1861, 
and  died  September  24,  1896.  He  married,  April  16,  1885,  Libbie, 
daughter  of  Samuel  H.  and  Margaret  (Noble)  Hancock.  A  child  born 
of  this  union  August  5,  1887,  is  Margaret  Ardilla  Jones. 

Mr.  E.  D.  G.  Jones'  third  wife,  who  survives  him,  was  Arwilla 
Bartlett  Noble,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Mary  Ann  (Granger)  Noble. 
She  was  born  December  18,  1843.  She  has  had  three  children,  Lefifell 
Noble  Jones,  born  November  8,  1872,  died  July  17,  1873;  Mary  Elvira 
Jones,  born  August  25,  1874,  died  August  8,  1875;  and  Samuel  Ralph 
Jones,  born  March  29,  1878,  now  in  business  with  the  E.  D.  Jones  & 
Son  Company. 

EDWARD  ARCHIE  JONES. 

The  numerous  strong  men  of  Berkshire  county  who  have  passed 
away,  whose  indomitable  wills,  business  sagacity,  enterprise,  industry 
and  integrity  were  responsible  for  the  most  enduring  and  valuable  of 
monuments,  the  great,  thriving,  manufacturing  establishments  of  the 
community,  fortunately  in  a  number  of  instances  left  sons  who  are 
proving  fully  equal  to  the  large  responsibilities  which  were  their  heri- 
tage. A  case  in  point  is  that  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  narrative,  son  of  Edward  Dorr  Griffin  Jones,  the  details  of  whose 
interesting  career  are  contained  herein. 

Edward  Archie  Jones  was  born  in  East  Lee,    Berkshire    county, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  157 

Massachusetts,  November  3,  1863.  His  initial  schooling-  was  obtained 
in  Pittsfield  and  this  was  supplemented  by  an  academic  course  at  Peek- 
skill  Military  Academy,  class  of  1882.  He  then  entered  Massachusetts 
Institute  of  Technologj\^,  Boston,  taking-  the  mechanical  engineering 
course,  loising  one  year  by  reason  of  illness,  and  graduating  from  the 
institution  with  the  class  of  1887. 

Immediately  thereafter  he  entered  the  designing  room  of  his 
father's  establishment  and  was  given  a  partnership  interest  therein  in 
June,  1890,  the  plant  being  operated  under  the  name  E.  D.  Jones'  Sons 
&  Co.,  the  members  of  which  were  E.  D.  G.  Jones  and  his  sons,  Harley 
E.  and  Edward  Archie  Jones  and  A\'alter  T.  Noble.  The  business  com- 
bined the  manufacturing  interests  of  E.  D.  G.  Jones  and  William  Clark 
&  Co. 

In  May,  1893,  a  coi-poration — E.  D.  Jones'  &  Sons  Co. — was 
formed  with  E.  D.  Jones,  president;  Harley  E.  Jones,  treasurer,  and 
Edward  Archie  Jones,  secretary,  the  last  named  succeeding  to  the  treas- 
urership  upon  his  brother's  decease  in  1896,  and  to  its  presidency  upon 
the  demise  of  his  father  in  1904. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a  director  of  the  Pittsfield  National  and  Pittsfield 
Co-Operative  Banks,  President  of  Central  Block  Corporation,  and  a 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  Keith  Paper  Co.,  one  of  the  great 
industries  of  Turners  Falls.   Massachusetts. 

He  \vas  elected  in  1903  to  represent  Ward  4  in  the  city  council  of 
Pittsfield  and  served  efilciently  on  the  finance,  fire  department,  fuel  and 
lighting,  and  alms  house  and  poor  committees  for  the  full  term  of  two 
years,  being  then  elected  by  a  large  majority  as  alderman  from  the  same 
ward.  He  is  a  member  of  Crescent  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  Royal  iVrcanum. 

He  married,  Octolier  7,   189 1,  Isabel  Amelia,  daughter  of  Charles 


158  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

M.  and  Amelia  (Henry)  Abbe  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jones  have  one  son,  Charles  Edward  Jones,  born  January  7, 
1894.     The  family  residence   is    152  Wendell   avenue. 

HON.  FRANCIS  E.  WARREN. 

Hon.  Francis  Emroy  Warren,  United  States  senator  from  Wyo- 
ming, whose  varied  career  includes  gallant  conduct  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  civil  war,  the  successful  conduct  of  important  financial  and 
commercial  enterprises,  and  conspicuously  useful  service  in  govern- 
mental affairs — local,  state  and  national — traces  his  ancestry  in  direct 
line  to  the  Warrens  who  landed  on  the  New  England  shores  when  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers  were  painfully  laying  the  foundations  of  the  great  Re- 
public. 

He  was  born  in  Hinsdale,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  June 
20,  1844.  His  boyhood  was  passed  upon  a  farm,  and  his  education  from 
the  age  of  eight  to  fifteen  was  limited  to  attendance  at  the  district  school 
during  a  few  weeks  of  midwinter.  He  then  took  employment  with 
dairymen  for  a  few  summers  in  order  to  earn  means  wherewith  to  main- 
tain himself  while  attending  Hinsdale  Academy  during  the  winter 
months.  His  education  was  not  completed  when  the  civil  war  broke 
out,  and  he  laid  aside  his  school  books  and  labors  to  enter  the  army  in 
response  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln.  As  a  private  soldier  and  non- 
commissioned officer  he  served  with  courage  and  fidelity  in  the  Forty- 
ninth  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  during  the  stupendous  strug- 
gle. He  participated  in  the  operations  on  the  lower  Mississippi  under 
General  Banks,  including  the  engagements  at  Plain's  Store  and  Donald- 
sonville,  Louisiana,  and  about  Port  Hudson,  Mississippi.  During  the 
siege  of  the  latter  famous  stronghold  his  own  and  other  regiments  were 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  159 

asked  to  furnish  a  contingent  of  two  volunteers  from  each  company 
for  the  dangerous  duty  of  preceding  the  cohimn  of  attack,  tearing  away 
the  abattis  and  filling  up  with  fascines  the  broad,  deep  ditch  in  front 
of  the  enemy's  fortifications,  rifle  pits  and  bastions  bristling  with  heavy 
artillery.  Warren  was  one  of  three  gallant  volunteers.  As  the  ''forlorn 
hope,"  as  it  was  termed,  marched  upon  the  works,  fire  was  opened  upon 
it  from  all  of  the  opposing  batteries  and  concealed  infantry.  The  loss 
was  terrible,  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  assaulting  forces  being 
killed  or  wounded.  The  fascine  which  Warren  carried  was  struck  by 
a  cannon  shot,  and.  though  not  seriously  injured,  he  was  stunned  and 
lay  unconscious  for  a  considerable  time.  In  later  years  congress  and 
the  president  recognized  the  part  taken  in  this  affair  by  Senator  War- 
ren, and  awarded  him  the  congressional  medal  of  honor,  which  is  only 
bestowed  for  exceptional  gallantry  in  battle. 

After  being  honorably  mustered  out  of  service,  Mr.  Warren  re- 
turned to  his  native  town,  where  he  accepted  employment  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  George  Plunkett  thoroughbred  stock  farm.  He  remained 
here  until  early  in  the  spring  of  1868,  when  he  decided  to  go  west.  For 
several  months  in  1868  he  was  engaged  as  superintendent  of  a  portion 
of  the  track  laying  on  the  new  line  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pa- 
cific Railway,  then  building  from  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  to  Council  Bluffs. 
In  June  of  the  same  year,  at  an  urgent  request  of  Mr.  A.  R.  Converse, 
formerly  of  Windsor,  Massachusetts,  he  went  to  Cheyenne,  Wyoming 
Territory,  to  take  charge  of  the  latter's  mercantile  business.  At  that 
time  Cheyenne  was  a  frontier  place  of  tents,  cabins  and  shacks,  with  no 
semblance  of  permanency,  the  terminus  of  the  Union  Pacific  having 
moved  westward.  There  was  a  general  feeling  that  its  existence  was  but 
a  matter  of  a  few  months,  and  that  it  would  soon  become  one  of  the 
"  dead  cities  of  the  plains,"  marking  the  advancing  line  of  the  railroad. 


160  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Mr.  Warren  did  not  share  in  the  feehng,  and  he  decided  to  make  Chey- 
enne his  permanent  home.  How  abundantly  his  judgment  was  vindi- 
cated is  discerned  in  the  beautiful  capital  of  the  state  of  Wyoming. 
During  the  thirty-six  years  which  have  elapsed  since  its  founding,  Mr. 
Warren  has  been  one  of  the  essential  factors  in  the  business  and  political 
life,  not  only  of  the  city,  but  of  the  commonwealth,  and,  tO'  some  extent, 
of  the  nation  at  large. 

In  1 87 1  Mr.  Warren  became  a  partner  of  his  employer,  the  firm 
for  six  years  being  Converse  &  Warren ;  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  purchased  Mr.  Converse's  interest  and  the  style  of  the  firm  was 
F.  E.  Warren,  later  F.  E.  Warren  &  Company,  and,  still  a  few  years 
later,  the  business  was  enlarged  and  incorporated  under  the  title  of  the 
F.  E.  Warren  Mercantile  Company,  which  until  1903  conducted  one  of 
the  largest  mercantile  establishments  in  Wyoming.  Between  1873  and 
1883  Mr.  Warren  devoted  much  time  to  raising  sheep  and  cattle,  and  in 
1883  he  organized  the  Warren  Live  Stock  Company,  which  is  now  one 
of  the  few  remaining  large  live  stock  concerns;  at  times  its  holdings 
have  been  126.000  sheep  besides  a  few  thousand  each  of  horses  and  cat- 
tle. In  addition  to  his  live  stock  interests,  Mr.  Warren  is  identified  with 
the  Cheyenne  Light,  Fuel  and  Power  Company,  as  its  president  and 
majority  stockholder,  and  has  extensive  real  estate  interests  in  Chey- 
enne. 

During  his  thirty-six  years'  residence  in  Wyoming  Mr.  W^arren 
has  filled  many  positions  of  trust  and  honor.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to 
the  legislature,  serving  as  president  of  the  upper  house.  In  1884  he  de- 
clined the  nomination  for  congress,  unanimously  tendered  him  by  the 
Republican  party  of  Wyoming.  For  six  years  he  was  treasurer  of 
Wyoming.  In  1885  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Cheyenne,  and  while  hold- 
ing that  position,  in  addition  to  those  of  treasurer  of  Wyoming  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  101 

member  of  the  upper  house  of  the  legislature,  he  was  appointed  governor 
of  Wyoming  by  President  Arthur.  One  of  the  first  tests  of  Governor 
Warren's  executive  ability  was  in  quelling  the  anti-Chinese  riots  at 
Rock  Springs  in  1885.  By  his  prompt  and  decisive  action  in  protect- 
ing the  Chinese  citizens  of  Rock  Springs  and  Evanston  he  won  the 
warm  commendation  not  only  of  the  citizens  of  Wyoming,  but  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States  at  large.  Mr.  Warren  continued  to  act  as 
governor  until,  under  the  Cleveland  administration,  in  his  official  report 
he  strongly  criticised  the  policy  of  Land  Commissioner  Sparks,  where- 
upon he  was  removed.  He  was  reappointed  by  President  Harrison  in 
1889,  and  served  until  1890,  when  he  was  elected  governor  at  the  first 
state  election  held  after  ^^^'oming■  was  admitted  to  statehood. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  first  state  legislature,  Governor  Warren  and 
ex-Congressman  J.  M.  Carey  were  elected  United  States  senators.  Both 
were  sworn  into  office  December  ist,  1890,  and  their  terms  decided  by 
lot,  Mr.  Warren  drawing  the  short  term,  which  expired  !^Iarch  4,  1893. 
Owing  to  the  existence  of  three  political  parties  in  the  legislature  that 
year,  neither  one  with  a  majority,  a  deadlock  occurred,  rendering  an 
election  impossible,  and  the  state  was  represented  in  congress  by  but 
one  senator  until  1895.  In  that  year  Mr.  Warren  was  again  chosen, 
and  under  such  extraordinary  circumstances  as  to  constitute  the  highest 
possible  tribute  to  his  worth  and  the  value  placed  upon  his  services,  the 
Republican  members  of  the  legislature  (all  1)ut  three  of  the  entire  body), 
without  the  formality  of  a  caucus,  giving  him  their  unanimous  vote  in 
open  session.  In  1900  came  to  him  a  compliment  of  equal  if  not  greater 
significance.  He  was  in  attendance  upon  the  second  session  of  the 
Fifty-sixth  congress  when  his  senatorial  term  was  about  to  expire,  and 
practically  all  of  the  members  of  the  Wyoming  state  legislature  wrote 
advisine  him  that  he  need  not  feel  under  anv  necessitv  of  returning  on 


162  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

account  of  the  coming  election.  Confident  in  such  assurance,  and  trust- 
ing implicitly  in  the  loyalty  of  his  fellow-Republicans,  Senator  Warren 
remained  in  his  seat,  and  in  due  time  was  notified  of  his  election  to  suc- 
ceed himself  for  the  six-year  term  expiring  March  3,  1907. 

Senator  Warren  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  industrious  and  saga- 
cious members  of  the  United  States  senate,  and  is  classed  among  the 
Republican  leaders  in  that  body.  In  the  Fifty-fifth  congress  his  speech 
in  advocacy  of  the  army  reorg^anization  measure  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  all  interested  in  military  matters.  His  herculean  efi^orts  to  se- 
cure government  aid  for  western  irrigation  works  during  the  closing 
hours  of  that  session,  in  a  speech  of  several  hours'  length,  brought  the 
needs  of  the  west  more  forciljly  and  distinctly  before  congress  and  the 
country  at  large  than  ever  befx^re,  and  aroused  the  west  itself  to  greater 
efforts  to  secure  what,  of  right,  belonged  to  its  people.  By  his  speech 
on  this  occasion  Senator  Warren  advanced  the  cause  of  irrigation  many 
years,  and  with  the  incoming"  of  President  Roosevelt's  administration 
the  desired  legislation  on  the  subject  became  the  law  \ii  the  land.  Sen- 
ator Warren  is  a  member  of  several  of  the  most  important  committees 
of  the  senate.  He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  claims;  second  mem- 
ber on  the  committee  on  military  affairs ;  fifth  on  the  committee  on  ap- 
propriations ;  second  on  public  buildings  and  gTounds ;  second  on  audit 
and  control  of  the  contingent  expenses  of  the  senate;  second  on  irriga- 
tion and  reclamation  of  arid  lands,  and  third  on  agriculture  and  forestry. 
His  position  upon  two-  committees  last  named  serve  to  indicate  the  chan- 
nels in  which  he  has  been  primarih'  useful  not  onh'  in  behalf  of  the  state 
to  whose  interests  he  has  Ijeen  so  long  and  so  unselfishly  committed,  but 
in  the  de\'el')pment  of  the  entire  great  northwest.  Senator  Warren's 
relation  to  his  state  marks  him  as  a  fine  type  of  the  modern  pioneer  who, 
following  after  the  explorer,  prepares  the  way  for  that  mighty  immigra- 


9riZ.yQ^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  163 

tion  which  makes  permanent  homes,  builds  towns  and  cities,  and,  upon 
what  was  pronounced  to  be  an  arid  uninhabitable  soil,  plants  evidences 
of  ci\ilization  and  culture,  which  can  suffer  little  by  comparison  with 
the  older  regions  of  the  country. 

Senator  Warren  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  in  the  Repulilican 
conventions  of  his  state,  and  chairman  of  its  central  committee.  He 
has  also  sat  in  national  conventions,  and  as  chairman  of  his  state  dele- 
gation in  that  body.  A  man  of  broad  information  and  attractive  per- 
sonality, he  is  also  an  orator  of  high  ability,  and  whether  on  the  floor  of 
congress,  on  the  hustings,  or  in  a  deliberative  body  of  men  of  affairs, 
he  exercises,  though  modestly,  and  without  dogmatism  or  assumption 
of  superiority,  a  winning  and  potent  influence. 

Senator  Warren  was  married  January  26.  187 1,  to  Helen  Maria 
Smith,  of  Middlefield,  Massachusetts,  daughter  of  Hon.  Matthew  Smith, 
of  that  place,  and  Maria  Smith,  nee  Root.  Mrs.  ^^'arren  died  ^Tarch 
28,  igo2. 

Senator  Warren's  family  now  consists  of  two  children — Helen 
Frances,  who  is  a  graduate  of  ^^'ellesley  College,  class  of  1903;  and 
Frederick  Emroy,  of  the  1905  class  of  Harvard  University. 

WILLL\^I  BAINBRIDGE  RICE. 

William  Bainbridge  Rice,  a  graduate  of  Williams  College,  class 
of  "44,  for  many  years  an  exce])tionally  efficient  educator,  e\'entually  an 
equally  successful  manufacturer,  the  suliject  of  these  memoirs  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  and  one  of  the  most  honored  of  the  citizens  of  Pitts- 
field.  He  was  born  January  12,  1824,  son  of  the  late  Royal  and  Sarah 
(Heminway)  Rice,  the  former  a  n.ative  of  Brookfield.  Worcester  county, 
the  latter  of  Williamsburo-.  where  thc\'  were  married  and  lived  out  their 


164:  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

lives,  Royal  Rice  combining  agricultural  pursuits  with  following  his 
trade  of  shoemaking.  Royal  Rice  was  born  in  April,  1800,  and  died 
in  March,  1883;  his  wife  was  born  in  1798,  and  died  in  the  early  fifties. 
Their  son,  William  Bainbridge  Rice,  was  afforded  the  best  facili- 
ties for  the  obtainance  of  an  education,  attending  the  public  and  select 
preparatory  schools  of  Williamsburg  and  succeeding  in  entering  the 
Sophomore  class  of  Williams  College  in  184 1,  being  graduated  there- 
from three  years  later;  one  of  his  classmates  being  Hon.  Marshall  Wil- 
cox also  of  Pittsheld.  His  first  employment  \vas  school  teaching  in 
Peru,  Berkshire  county,  and  subsequently  elsewhere  in  that  and  adjoin- 
ing counties. 

In  1846  he  was  called  to  the  principalship  of  Norfolk  (Connecticut) 
Academy,  a  position  which  he  continued  to  fill  up  to  1858.  Among  the 
interesting  personalities  to  come  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Rice  at  this 
institution  was  Asaph  Hall  afterward  professor  at  the  National  Ob- 
servatory, Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia,  eminent  among  astrono- 
mers as  the  discoverer  of  the  moons  of  Mars.  Lorrin  A.  Cooke,  after- 
ward governor,  and  James  Dudley  Dewell,  afterward  lieutenant  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut,  were  also  pupils  of  Norfolk  Academy  during 
this  period.  Theron  Wilmot  Crissey,  LL.  B.,  compiler  of  "  1 744-1900 
Historv  of  Norfolk,"  commenting  on  Mr.  Rice's  citizenship  and  edu- 
cational services  in  Norfolk,  says :  "  During  all  his  residence  here  he 
was  a  member  of  the  School  Board  and  one  of  the  School  Visitors. 
*  *  *  He  was  the  most  successful  teacher  the  Academy  ever  had. 
While  he  was  principal  the  school  was  large,  flourishing,  and  had  a 
wnde  reputation,  drawing,  especially  for  the  winter  terms,  pupils  not 
only  from  this  and  the  adjoining  towns  in  this  county  and  from  towns 
in  Massachusetts,  but  also  a  considerable  number  of  young  men  from 
Nevv-  York  citv,   Staten  Island  and  vicinity."     It  was  largely  thmugh 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  165 

Mr.  Rice's  personal  services  that  the  large  tract  now  devoted  to  park 
purposes  in  the  heart  of  the  town  was  secured  as  such. 

The  same  publication  quotes  much  interesting  matter  from  an  address 
delivered  by  Mr.  Rice,  October  lo,  1894,  at  a  celebration  of  the  tenth 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Robbins  School  (which  took  the 
place  of  the  Academy),  Norfolk.  An  extract  from  these  cjuotations  is 
here  given  as  an  interesting  revelation  of  educational  methods  of  a 
half  century  ago  as  pursued  by  Mr.  Rice  at  Norfolk  Academy: 

"  The  younger  pupils  were  taught  after  a  pretty  well  defined  course 
in  reading,  spelling,  arithmetic,  geography,  grammar,  and  history,  espe- 
cially of  the  United  States,  with  generally  satisfactory  results.  The 
studies  of  the  older  pupils  were  such  as  each  one  chose, — somewhat 
after  the  modern  plan  of  some  of  our  colleges, — optional  or  elective, 
and  included  arithmetic,  grammar,  algebra,  mental  philosophy,  Latin. 
Greek,  etc.  Most  of  them  knew  pretty  well  what  they  wanted,  and  I 
made  it  my  business  to  give  them  what  they  wanted,  to  the  best  of  my 
ability.  Their  notions  as  to  the  value  of  education  were  decidedly 
utilitarian.  As  to  educational  theories,  I  am  not  aware  that  I  had  any. 
The  object  aimed  at  steadily  and  persistently  was  to  lead  the  boys  and 
girls  to  think  for  themselves,  to  look  at  the  subjects  under  consideration 
in  a  common  sense  way.  A  select  sentence  in  one  of  our  reading  books 
ran  thus :  '  Fine  sense  and  exalted  sense  are  not  half  so  valuable  as 
common  sense ; '  and  we  believed  and  acted  accordingly.  So,  whether  it 
was  a  problem  in  arithmetic  or  algebra,  or  a  difficult  sentence  that  was 
under  consideration,  appeal  was  made  to  common  sense.  The  disci- 
pline thus  gained  was  of  far, more  value  than  the  knowledge  acquired 
in  the  process,  arrd  this  developed  and  strengthened  that  faculty,  which 
in  men  and  women  is  so  difficult  to  define,  so  easy  of  recognition.  It 
was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  a  pupil  in  the  course  of  the  winter  ses- 
sion to  work  his  way  through  Adams'  or  Thompson's  arithmetic,  doing 
as  much  work  and  doing  it  well,  as  is  done  in  modern  graded  schools 
in  two  or  three  years.  This  is  to  be  regarded  simply  as  a  statement  of 
fact — not  as  a  criticism,  for  the  multiplicity  of  studies  of  today  is  doubt- 
less responsible  for  much  of  the  difiference." 

Mr.  Rice  resigned  his  Norfolk  Academy  connection  in  1858  to 
locate  in  Pittsfield,  and  there  entered  into  the  steam,  water  and  gas  pipe 
business  in  association  with  the  late  Joseph  K.  Kilbourn,  an  inventor  of 


166  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

local  note,  the  firm  being  orig-inally  known  as  J.  K.  Kilbourn  &  Com- 
pany, a  short  time  thereafter  as  Kilbourn  &  Rice,  and  six  years  later, 
upon  the  admission  of  Eugene  Robbms  thereto,  as  Kilbourn,  Rice  & 
Company.  Upon  the  withdra\\al  from  the  firm  of  Mr.  Kilbourn,  who 
had  formed  other  associations,  the  business  was  continued  under  the  name 
of  Rice,  Robbins  &  Company,  and  upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Rice  in 
1873,  after  fifteen  years  of  successful  business  connection  therewith,  be- 
came and  is  still  known  as  Robl:iins,  Gamwell  &  Company,  conducting 
one  of  Pittsfield's  most  thriving  industries. 

During  this  active  business  career  Mr.  Rice  had  not  ceased  to  be 
interested  in  educational  matters,  and  his  services  were  naturally  sought 
and  for  a  number  of  years  secured  upon  the  school  board  of  Pittsfield. 
He  was  serving  in  the  capacity  of  chairman  of  the  executive  committee 
of  this  board  in  1876  when  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  superintendency  of 
schools,  and  Mr.  Rice  took  charge  of  that  office  at  the  instance  of  the 
committee,  and  two  years  later  was  elected  by  the  school  committee  as 
superintendent,  an  office  which  he  continued  to  fill  with  characteristic 
efficiency  by  continuous  annual  re-elections  for  a  period  of  seven  years. 
During  this  time  the  initial  steps  were  taken  which  led  to  the  establish- 
ment of  the  graded  school  system. 

In  1880  Mr.  Rice  acquired  an  interest  in  S.  K.  Smith's  silk  thread 
and  twist  manufacturing  establishment  at  Pittsfield  and  his  son  Arthur 
Hitchcock  Rice  was  installed  therein  to-  learn  the  business.  In  the 
early  eighties  Mr.  Rice  purchased  his  partner's  interest  in  this  plant, 
associated  his  son  therewith,  and  it  was  subsequently  conducted  under 
the  firm. name  of  A.  H.  Rice  &  Company  up  to  1905,  when  it  was  in- 
corporated as  A.  H.  Rice  Company,  with  W.  B.  Rice,  president,  and 
A.   H.   Rice,  treasurer.     The  concern  employs  many  operatives,  being 


m--  *  ^ 


BERKSHIRE  CO  UNTY  ]  67 

one  of  the  significant  business  successes  of  Pittsfiekl,  distributing  a 
large  product  through  offices  in  New  York,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Rice  was  an  old-Hne  Whig,  and  since  its  formation  a  staunch 
Repubhcan.  He  has  been  a  hfe-long  member  of  the  Congregational 
church  and  served  for  many  years  as  one  of  the  board  of  deacons  of 
the  South  church.  Pittsfiekl.  and  is  now  an  honorary  member  of  that 
board. 

He  married,  November  20.  1851,  Caroline  P.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Deacon  Augustus  Hitchcock,  of  Great  Barrington,  Massachusetts.  Of 
two  children  born  of  this  union,  William  B.,  died  in  childhood.  Arthur 
H.  Rice,  hereinbefore  named,  was  born  December  24,  1854;  Avas  gradu- 
ated from  Pittsfiekl  high  school  in  1872,  and  from  Williams  College, 
class  of  1876;  and  is  engaged  in  business  as  heretofore  narrated.  He 
married  Alice,  daughter  of  J.  A.  Thompson,  of  !\Ielrose,  Connecticut, 
and  has  a  son,  William  T.  Rice. 

COLONEL  GEORGE  CHURCH. 

Colonel  George  Church  whose  death  occurred  at  his  late  home  in 
Great  Barrington,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  June  zy,  1903,  was 
a  man  who  was  endowed  with  rare  business  genius,  and  had  he  desired 
it  might  easily  have  taken  a  foremost  position  in  the  commercial  world 
in  any  of  the  g'reat  centers  of  population.  Although  preferring"  to  live 
quietly  and  unostentatiously  in  the  rural  atmosphere  of  Berkshire  and 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  some  of  the  more  important  manufactur- 
ing concerns  with  which  he  was  prominently  and  actively  identified  for 
SO'  manv  vears,  his  was  a  well-kno\\n  personalit}-  in  the  financial  circles 
of  the  east.  '  He  possessed  a  gifted  intellect,  strong  mentality,  absolute 
business  integritv.  quick  and  unerring  judgment  and  a  fine  appreciation 
of  values,  present  and  ])rospective. 


168  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Colonel  Church  was  a  descendant  of  an  old  and  honored  Connect- 
icut stock,  and  was  born  in  Canaan,  Connecticut,  July  20,  1826,  a  son 
of  Leman  and  Sarah  (Pomeroy)  Church.     Leman  Church  was  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  Litchfield  county  bar,  with  a  reputation  for  ability 
and  skill  in  his  profession,  which  exceeded  the  limits  of  his  native  state, 
the  revised  statutes  of  which  he  assisted  in  compiling,  and  won  for  him 
clients  over  the  borders  into  New  York  and  Massachusetts.     Hon.  Sam- 
uel Church,  brother  of  Leman  Church,  was  chief  justice  of  the  state  of 
Connecticut.     Colonel  Church  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town,  Canaan,  and  the  knowledge  thus  gained  was  supplemented  by  in- 
struction from  his  father,  especially  in  law,  that  might  be  useful  to  him 
in  a  business  way.     In  1841  he  left  home  to  seek  his  first  employment 
in   Huntsville,   Connecticut,   a   neighboring  village,    obtaining   work  at 
the  smelting  of  pig  iron,  the  iron  industry  at  that  time  being  the  leading 
one  in  that  section  of  the  country.     After  a  residence  of  twelve  years  in 
that  village  he  removed  to  Van  Deusenville,  where  he  became  connected 
with  the  Richmond  Iron  Works.     He  made  an  exhaustive  study  of  the 
iron  business  in  all  its  branches,  and  in  the  broader  field  which  the  works 
there  opened  up  he  soon  became  one  of  the  best  known  experts  in  char- 
coal pig  iron  in  the  country.     Entering  into  business  relations  with  the 
late   John  H.   Coffing  and  George  Coffing,  Colonel  Church  became  an 
owner  in  the  company  for  whom  he  had  been  acting  for  some  years  as 
agent,  and  later  they  were  joined  bv  the  late  William  H.  Barnum,  after- 
wards United  States  senator  from  Connecticut.     These  men  were  the 
iron  kings  in  the  ante-bellum  days,  and  during  the  war  the  company's 
iron  was  almost  all  purchased  by  the  government  for  the  manufacture 
of  guns  and  cannons.     In  1861  Colonel  Church  became  identified  with 
the  ^lonument  Mills  in  Housatonic,  which  was  then  the  largest  manu- 
facturing concern  in  its  line,  that  of  the  making  of  bed  quilts,  in  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  161) 

United  States,  and  through  his  management  and  business  abiHty  it  as- 
sumed still  larger  proportions  and  attained  a  prominence  theretofore 
unknown.  Although  devoting  considerable  time  and  attention  to  this 
new  enterprise,  he  did  not  neglect  the  iron  business,  and  in  1867,  again 
in  partnership  with  John  H.  and  George  Coffing,  and  the  late  Charles 
J.  Taylor,  the  well-known  historian  and  long-time  treasurer  of  the  Sav- 
ings Bank  of  Great  Barrington,  the  Lenox  Iron  Furnace  was  estab- 
lished at  Lenox  Furnace,  Massachusetts.  Later  Colonel  Church  with 
George  and  John  H.  Coffing  incorporated  the  Ramapo  Wheel  Foundry 
Company  and  the  Ramapo  L'on  Works  at  Hillburn,  New  York,  of  both 
of  which  he  took  the  presidency  and  treasurership.  These  concerns 
were  established  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  wheels  and  brake 
shoes  by  the  former,  and  switches,  frogs  and  general  railroad  castings 
by  the  latter.  In  1873  the  pig  iron  industry  in  the  Berkshire  Valley  be- 
gan to  meet  the  competition  of  the  west  and  south,  and  thereafter  suf- 
fered a  decline  from  which  it  was  never  able  to-  rally.  However,  the 
Ramapo  enterprises,  not  being  affected  by  the  same  conditions,  pros- 
pered greatly  and  were  a  source  of  large  income.  In  1881,  together 
with  R.  A.  Burget  and  John  H.  Coffing,  he  purchased  beds  of  sand, 
from  which  the  purest  and  clearest  glass  could  be  made,  incorporated 
the  Berkshire  Glass  Sand  Company  of  Cheshire,  and  shipped  the  sand 
to  all  the  most  prominent  manufacturers  of  cut  glass  in  this  country  and 
in  Europe.  He  was  president  and  treasurer  of  the  company  for  two 
decades.  He  was  also  a  director  in  the  Stanley  Instrument  Company, 
the  National  Mahaiwe  Bank,  the  Berkshire  Railroad  Company,  and 
president  of  the  Great  Barrington  Savings  Bank. 

Politically  Colonel  Church  was  a  Democrat  in  his  earlier  manhood, 
but  continued  to  espouse  the  Republican  principles  from  the  time  he 
voted   for  Abraham  Lincoln  in   i860.     Although  he  might  have  held 


1^0  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

almost  any  political  office  which  his  town  and  county  could  offer,  and 
was  frequently  invited  to  become  a  candidate,  the  allurements  of  office 
did  not  tempt  him,  if  we  except  one  term  as  a  member  of  the  Connecti- 
cut legislature  and  the  several  occasions  when  he  allowed  himself  to  be 
elected  a  selectman  of  the  town  of  Great  Barrington.  In  the  latter 
office  he  served  for  three  years  from  1861  to  1864  as  one  of  the  notable 
war  board,  having  for  his  associates  the  late  C.  J.  Taylor  and  the  late 
John  M.  Seely,  and  one  year — in  1876 — when  the  same  trio  were  re- 
elected as  the  famous  "Centennial  board."  Colonel  Church  was  one  of 
the  oldest  Free  Masons  in  the  town  of  Great  Barrington,  having  joined 
Cincinnatus  Lodge  as  early  as  1858.  He  was  also  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  Monument  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons. 

On  February  14,  1861,  Colonel  Church  married  Maria  Louise  Bost- 
wick,  of  Van  Deusenville.  and  eight  children  were  born  of  this  union. 
Li  the  year  of  his  marriage  Cclfjuel  Church  removed  to  Great  Barrington, 
where  he  purchased  the  residence  of  the  late  Theodore  Dewey  on  South 
street,  which  he  afterward  remodeled,  and  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  the  time  of  his  death. 

PARLEY  ASA  RUSSELL. 
Li  every  center  of  population  are  to  be  found  men  of  generally 
recognized  excellence  of  judgment  and  uncompromising  integrity,  upon 
whom  it  is  instinct  with  the  community  to  thrust  responsibilities.  Such 
men,  too,  are  almost  invariably  those  whose  private  affairs  are  of  the 
most  important  and  absorbing  nature  and  whose  natural  inclination  is 
averse  to  the  assumption  of  public  duties.  Of  these  in  southern  Berk- 
shire is  Parley  Asa  Russell,  of  Great  Barrington,  whose  valuable  and 
diverse  public  service  has  ever  kept  pace  with  successful  business  enter- 
prises. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  171 

Parley  A.  Russell  was  born  in  Great  Barrington,  June  i8,  1838, 
son  of  the  late  John  Cone  Russell  and  Jeanette  Eloise  (Wilcox)  Rus- 
sell, both  natives  of  Connecticut,  the  former  of  Westford,  the  latter  of 
Canaan.  John  Cone  Russell  located  in  Great  Barrington  in  1824  and 
entered  the  employ  of  an  uncle.  Alvenus  Cone,  proprietor  of  the  gen- 
eral store  at  that  place.  Industry,  thrift  and  business  capacity  com- 
bined to  enable  his  purchase  in  a  comparati\'ely  short  time  of  this  estab- 
lishment, which  he  continued  to  successfully  conduct  in  partnership 
association  with  his  brother.  Asa  C.  Russell,  for  many  years.  During 
this  period  these  gentlemen,  with  others,  formed  a  corporation  known 
as  the  Berkshire  Woolen  Company,  of  which  John  Cone  Russell  was 
president  and  general  manager  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease.  This 
plant,  installed  in  a  very  modest  way  in  1836.  steadily  developed  until 
it  became  the  leading  industry  of  its  kind  in  southern  Berkshire,  em- 
ploying three  hundred  operatives.  In  1852  Messrs.  J.  C.  and  A.  C. 
Russell,  with  others,  purchased  the  properties  of  the  cotton  print  manu- 
facturing establishment  of  the  defunct  Housatonic  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany and  incorporated  in  the  following  year  as  Monument  Mills.  In- 
stant and  conspicuous  success  attended  this  enterprise  and  it  became  the 
most  important  manufacturing  industry  of  the  town,  largely  through 
the  business  capacity  and  enterprise  of  John  Cone  Russell,  who  was 
president  and  principal  adviser  of  the  company  from  its  incorporation 
up  to  the  time  of  his  decease.  John  C.  Russell  was  one  of  the  founders 
and  original  stockholders  and  officers  of  the  Mahaiwe  National  Bank 
of  Great  Barrington.  He  died  in  1873;  his  brother.  Asa  C.  Russell, 
died  in  1876. 

Parlev  Asa  Russell  received  his  initial  schooling-  in  his  native  town 
and  this  was  supplemented  by  attendance  at  Williston  Seminary,  East- 
hampton,  Massachusetts,  and  an  academic  course  at  College  Hill,  Rough- 


172  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

keepsie,  New  York.  His  business  career  had  its  inception  in  1855  at 
Great  Barrington  as  clerk  with  the  firm  of  Holhster  &  Taylor,  by  whom 
he  was  employed  for  four  years.  Following  this  he,  for  one  year,  1859- 
60,  conducted  a  general  store  of  his  own  at  Housatonic.  In  the  spring 
of  1 86 1  he  became  associated  with  the  woolen  manufacturing  business 
heretofore  referred  to,  and  continued  to  be  officially  connected  with  its 
management  up  to  his  retiracy  from  active  business  life  in  1894.  The 
management  of  his  private  estate  and  the  fulfillment  of  the  duties  of 
various  offices  have  served  to  occupy  his  time  quite  fully  since  the  lat- 
ter date.  He  has  been  the  efficient  chairman  of  the  board  of  water  com- 
missioners since  1892,  when  the  corporate  interests  supplying  water  to 
Great  Barrington  were  purchased  by  the  municipalit}^,  and  was  for  a 
period  of  seven  years  active  in  his  connection  with  the  fire  department 
of  Great  Barrington  as  its  chief  engineer.  He  served  on  the  com- 
mittees which  erected  the  school  buildings  of  Great  Barrington  and  its 
town  hall,  and  as  a  member  of  the  committees  which  had  charge  of 
the  street  paving  and  railroad  improvements.  He  was  for  a  number  of 
years  one  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Monument  Mills,  of  Housa- 
tonic, and  is  now  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Mahaiwe  Bank,  the  Stanley 
Instrument  Company  of  Great  Barrington,  and  Mahaiwe,  and  Berkshire 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Companies,  of  Pittsfield.  Ever  since  the  attain- 
ment of  his  majority  Mr.  Russell  has  been  a  Republican  of  the  stalwart 
type  and  has  always  given  liberally  of  his  time,  talent  and  means  tO'  the 
advancement  of  the  interests  of  his  party  in  his  native  town,  county 
and  state.  He  has  served  on  local  and  county  committees  and  as  dele- 
gate to  numerous  conventions,  among  the  latter  the  National  Repub- 
lican Convention  which  in  1896  at  St.  Louis  nominated  Mr.  McKinley 
for  the  presidency.  He  was  elected  in  1899  and  re-elected  in  1900  as 
a  member  of  governor's  council,  serving  the  first  year  with  Governor 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  ITS 

Wolcott  and  the  second  with  Governor  Crane.  In  this  connection  he 
served  on  the  pardons,  state  house,  finance  and  accounts  committees. 
Mr.  Russell  lias  been  twice  married;  his  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was 
wedded  in  1862,  being"  JNIary  E.,  daughter  of  John  Lewis,  a  leading 
agriculturist  of  southern  Berkshire  county.  She  had  three  children,  two 
of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  the  third,  John  Lewis  Russell,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-four  years,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  (Lewis)  Russell  died  in  1869. 
Mr.  Russell's  second  marriage  was  contracted  in  1870  with  Celeste  S. 
Gilbert,  granddaughter  of  Mrs.  George  Stanley,  nee  Clara  Wadhams, 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  respected  of  the  early  residents 
of  Great  J3arringtcn.  Of  four  children  born  tO'  them  two  survive: 
Mary  Ethelwvn.  wife  of  Frank  Judson  Pope,  of  New  York,  and  Miss 
Clara  Russell.  One  child  died  in  infancy  and  the  fourth,  William  Mc- 
Kenzie  Russell,  died  in  1904  at  Cornell  University  while  one  of  the 
very  promising  students  in  the  sophomore  class  of  that  institution. 
Tlie  familv  are  members  of  the  First  Congregational  church  of  Great 
Barrington. 

EDMUND  ELMORE  CALLENDER. 

Old  residents  of  Berkshire  count}-,  among  their  recollections  of 
the  past,  have  vivid  rememl)rances  of  the  genial  personality  and  upright 
character  of  Edmund  Elmore  Callender.  who  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  at  Sheffield,  Massachusetts.  AMth  this  town  the  Callender  fam- 
ily has  been  identified  for  nearly  two  centuries.  The  first  of  the  name 
concerning  whom  we  have  recorded  testimony  is  Philip  Callender,  who 
in  1735  was  elected  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Sheffield, 
and  also  served  as  one  of  the  first  selectmen  of  the  town.  He  married 
Mary and  they  were  the  parents  of  a  son,  John,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Smith.  October  23,  1735. 


1T4  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Joseph  Callender,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Smith)  Cahender,  was 
born  February  13,  1737  or  1738.  He  was  one  of  that  band  of  patriots 
who  helped  to  recruit  the  ranks  of  the  Revolutionary  army.  (See 
"  Massachusetts  Soldiers  and  Sailors  of  the  Revolutionary  War,"  Vol- 
ume III,  page  30.)  He  married,  June  21,  1759,  Mercy  Kellogg,  who 
was  born  April  22,  1740.  This  union  remained  inibitDken  for  nearly 
forty  years,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Callender,  who 
passed  away  October  ir,  1797.  Her  husband  survived  her  a  number  of 
years,  his  death  occurring  May  21,  18 12,  just  as  the  clouds  of  another 
war  with  Great  Britain  were  gathering  on  the  national  horizon. 

Stephen  Callender,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mercy  (Kellogg)  Callender, 
was  born  September  16,  1765,  and,  like  his  ancestors,  was  a  good  and 
useful  citizen.  He  appears  also  to  have  stood  high  in  the  Congregational 
church,  for  in  1810  he  was  elected  deacon,  the  same  office  to  which  his 
great-grandfather  had  been  chosen  seventy-five  years  before.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Sheldon,  January  31,  1790,  and  their  eldest  child  was  a 
son,  Edmund  Sheldon,  mentioned  at  length  hereinafter.  Mrs.  Callen- 
der died  March  20,  1832,  and  twenty-one  years  later  her  husband  passed 
away,  April  22.  1853,  having  attained  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight 
years. 

Edmund  Sheldon  Callender,  son  of  Stephen  and  Hannah  (Sheldon) 
Callender,  was  bom  September  24,  17QI.  in  Sheffield.  He  appears  to 
have  been  animated  by  a  migratory  spirit  not  possessed  by  any  of  his. 
ancestors,  inasmuch  as  he  abandoned  the  home  of  his  forefathers  among 
the  Berkshire  hills  and  moved  to  New  York  state.  He  married  Harriet 
Elmore,  and  they  had  a  son,  Edmund  Elmore,  mentioned  at  length  here- 
inafter. Both  were  regarded  with  esteem  and  affection  by  all  who 
knew  them. 

Edmund  Elmore  Callender,  son  of  Edmund  Sheldon  and  Harriet 


V 


i^k-a^LiJjLM''^-i'U- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  175 

(Elmore)  Callender,  was  born  at  Pallatine  Bridge,  New  York.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  hotelkeeper  and  from  his  agricultural  and  other  labors 
reaped  a  fair  measure  of  success.  Desiring  to  return  to  the  home  of 
his  ancestors,  he  came  to  Sheffield,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  For  many  years  he  was  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  which  under 
his  judicious  management  enjoyed  a  well  deserved  popularity.  Air.  Cal- 
lender took  the  interest  of  a  good  citizen  in  all  township  and  county 
affairs,  and  possessed  the  fullest  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  neigh- 
bors, by  whom  he  was  chosen  to  fill  various  offices,  among  them  that  of 
selectman. 

Mr.  Callender  married  Pamelia  Shears,  of  an  old  Berkshire  county 
family,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  three  daughters:  Emily  E.,  who 
married  D.  W.  Crippen  of  South  Egremont  and  who  is  now  deceased ; 
Harriet  A.,  who  married,  August  i8,  1874,  Francis  Thompson  Owen, 
and  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  May  Callender,  wife 
of  George  de  Pan  Fox,  of  New  York,  and  Gwendolyn ;  and  Alice  P., 
who  married  Dr.  F.  L.  Munsell,  of  New  York,  and  has  one  child.  Norma 
A.  Mr.  Owen  is  a  member  of  a  well-known  family  which  has  long  been 
resident  in  New  York. 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  Callender  it  was  felt  that  not  only  his  family 
and  near  friends  but  the  whole  community  had  sustained  a  severe  loss, 
and  that  as  a  man,  a  citizen,  and  a  neighbor,  his  place  would  not  soon 
be  filled. 

HON.    MARSHALL   WILCOX. 

Nestor  of  the  bar  of  Berkshire  county,  a  pillar  of  strength  in  the 
profession  which  he  has  for  so  many  years  adorned,  and  beloved  and 
respected  throughout  ^Vestern  Massachusetts,  the  gentleman  whose  name 


176  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

introduces  these  memoirs  long  since  attained  general  recognition  as  one 
of  the  strong  men  of  his  community. 

He  was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  March  19,  182 1,  son 
of  Loring  Wilcox,  a  native  of  Cromwell,  Connecticut,  whose  parents  re- 
moved thence  to  Stockbridge  during  the  early  youth  of  the  son  Loring. 
The  latter  e\'entually  located  in  Lanesboro,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits. 

Marshall  Wilcox  prepared  for  college  at  Lenox  Academy,  then  en- 
tering Williams  College,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
the  class  of  1844.  Plis  study  of  law  was  begun  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Hon.  Lester  Filley,  of  Otis.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1847, 
practiced  for  two  years  in  Otis,  Massachusetts,  and  the  following  two 
years  in  Chester,  and  in  1853  established  offices  at  Lee,  where  he  re- 
mained until   1 87 1,  when  he  removed  to  Pittsfield. 

His  professional  career  has  been  of  the  signally  successful  order,  his 
services  having  been  retained  in  many  of  the  most  important  cases  that 
have  been  before  the  courts  of  Western  Massachusetts. 

Originally  an  old-line  Whig,  he  has  consistently  been  allied  w^itli 
the  Republican  party  since  its  formation.  The  only  offices  which  he  has 
had  were  those  of  representative  to  the  state  assembly  in  1866,  and  state 
senator  in  1868.  Williams  College  conferred  the  degree  of  LL.D.  upon 
Mr.  Wilcox  in  189 1. 

A  reunion  of  the  members  of  his  class  was  held  at  Mr.  Wilcox's 
residence  in  June,  1905.  The  members  of  the  class  present  were  Rev. 
T.  H.  Hawkes  of  Springfield,  Dr.  Calvin  C.  Halsey  of  Montrose,  Penn- 
sylvania, William  B.  Rice,  former  superintendent  of  schools,  and  Mr. 
Wilcox,  the  veteran  attorney  of  this  city.  It  has  been  the  custom  of  the 
class  to  hold  a  formal  reunion  at  least  once  in  each  decade,  with  occa- 
sional meetino-s  at  other  than  these  stated  times,  and  alwavs  thev  have 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTl  m 

been  gatherings  of  enjoyment  in  a  fraternal  sense,  of  interest  in  all  ways, 
and  especially  as  the  number  of  survivors  grew  less  with  the  passing 
years,  affections,  friendships  and  memories  grew  more  and  more  sweet 
and  tender. 

The  class  of  1844  was  one  of  the  largest  in  the  college  history,  at 
that  time,  and  its  membership  represented  nearly  if  not  quite  every  state 
in  the  Union.  Even  after  a  number  had,  as  is  usual  in  college  classes, 
"  dropped  out,"  thirty-three  remained  to  graduate  and  of  these  were  the 
surviving  four  who  held  this  reunion.  Marshall  \\'ilcox,  president  of  the 
class  for  a  number  of  years  past,  presided,  and  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Hawkes,  minutes  were  read  and  the  old  class  officers  re-elected,  after 
which  followed  reminiscent  talks,  informal  and  pleasant  but  serious, 
earnest,  tender  and  fitting  the  occasion.  This  was  followed  by  dinner 
and  adjournment.  In  tone  and  spirit,  in  feeling  and  expression,  the  little 
gathering  was  of  a  grade  and  quality  that  was  impressive  to  a  degree 
that  no  previous  meeting,  however  large  in  numbers  attending,  has  sur- 
passed if  equalled.     It  seemed  to  hallow  them  all. 

Among  the  deceased  members  of  the  class  were  some  well  reniem- 
l:iered  in  this  section,  Hon.  Samuel  W.  Bowerman,  Gen.  Henry  S.  Briggs 
and  Judge  James  T.  Robinson  being  three  of  particular  prominence  in 
affairs.  Mr.  Bowerman,  as  lawyer  and  legislator,  won  eminence  and 
honor,  Judge  Robinson  as  editor  and  speaker,  as  lawyer  and  for  many 
years  judge  of  probate,  was  most  influential,  and  Gen.  Briggs  was  a  ris- 
ing member  of  the  Berkshire  bar,  when  lie  laid  down  a  case  which  he  was 
trying  in  the  courts  at  Boston  to  take  up  loyal  sen/ice  in  the  Union  army. 
The  late  Covil  C.  Wolcott,  of  Cheshire,  was  also  a  member  of  this  class 
and  there  are  memories  of  him  it  is  pleasant  to  recall. 

A  member  who  became  signally  noted  and  "  whose  works  do  fol- 
low him  "   was  Cyrus  Taggart  Mills.      Born   in    Paris,   New  York,   in 


178    •  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

1819,  he  entered  the  college  at  twenty-oiie,  practically  without  money 
but  with  plenty  of  sagacity  and  unconquerable  industry.  Through  this 
college  and  Union  Theological  Seminary  he  worked  every  foot  of  his 
w^ay  and  finished  clear  of  debt.  In  1848,  he  married  Miss  Susan  L. 
Tolman,  of  Ware,  who  had  been  for  six  years  with  Mary  Lyon  at  Mt. 
Holyoke  and  with  his  bride  he  sailed  for  India  under  the  auspices  of  the 
American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  He  remained  six  years,  was  later, 
for  two  years,  a  pastor  in  New  York  state,  and  then  settled  in  Southern 
California,  not  to  remain  however,  as  he  was  president  of  Oahu  College 
in  Honolulu  for  five  years.  Returning  to  California,  there  he  remained 
and  became  the  founder  of  Mills  college,  which  has  grown  to  great  fame 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  equalling  Mt.  Holyoke,  Smith,  Vassar,  and  like.  Mrs. 
Mills,  a  most  capal>le  and  esteemed  lady,  survives  her  husliand,  and  she 
is  now  the  able  and  beloved  president  of  the  college. 

Closing  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Mills  a  college  publication 
says:  "When  we  contemplate  the  life  of  this  noble  man,  and  remem- 
ber the  hun(h-eds  of  young  lives  that  came  under  his  influence,  we  realize 
that  no  mathematician  can  compute  the  far-reaching  and  blessed  results 
for  good  which  his  earnest  life  bestowed  upon  the  world." 

Mr.  Wilcox  married,  January  7,  1857,  Nancy  B.  Bradley,  a  native 
of  Lee. 

A  son,  Charles  M.  Wilcox,  born  at  Lee,  August  31,  1861,  was  edu- 
cated at  (h-evlock  Institute  and  Williston  Seminary,  Easthampton,  studied 
law  under  his  father  and  in  the  law  school  of  Boston  University,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  March  6,  1886,  and  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
jirofession  in  Pittsfield.  He  represented  Pittsfield  in  the  state  legislature 
in  1889.  He  married  May  2,  1892,  Katherine,  daughter  of  the  late  Al- 
bert ThonqDfon,  of  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Wilcox  have 
two  children,  Minerva,  ix)rn  June  10,  1893.  and  Evelyn  B.,  born  Decem- 
ber 24,  1897. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  1T9 

REV.  JOHN  TODD,  D.  D. 

The  Todd  family  originated  in  England,  and  the  American  branch 
was  planted  by  Christopher  Todd,  of  Pontefract,  in  the  West  Riding 
of  Yorkshire,  who  became  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  the  New  Haven 
colony  in  1639.  He  became  a  large  land  owner,  and  lived  to  a  ripe  old 
age,  leaving  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  This  distinguished  divine 
was  born  in  Rutland,  Vermont,  Octtiber  9,  1800,  son  of  Dr.  Timothy 
and  Phebe  (Buel)  Todd. 

Timothy  Todd  was  one  of  nine  children  of  Timothy  Todd,  who  was 
a  farmer,  merchant  and  magistrate,  and  was  an  ardent  patriot  in  Revo- 
lutionary times.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  when,  at  his  death,  his  estate 
was  found  to  be  insolvent  on  account  of  the  depreciation  of  the  con- 
tinental currency,  his  sons,  with  a  fine  sense  of  honor,  assumed  his  in- 
debtedness and  paid  it  in  full. 

Timothy  Todd,  father  of  Dr.  John  Todd,  bore  a  part  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Bennington.  After  the  Revolution  he  studied  medicine  and  en- 
gaged in  practice  at  Arlington,  Vermont,  after  having  visited  Killing- 
worth  (now  Clinton,  Connecticut),  to  marry  Phebe,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Jehiel  Buel.  Near  Arlington  he  built  a  lirick  house,  which  was 
standing  in  1875,  ''^"^^  ^""^^'^  '^'^'^^"^  ^^'^'''''  ^'^  "^  ^^'^^  seven  children.  He 
served  in  the  General  Assembly  and  in  the  governor's  council.  He 
wrote  manv  articles  for  the  press,  and  delivered  addresses  upon  special 
occasions.  Shortly  before  the  birth  of  his  son  John  he  was  seriously 
injured  in  an  accident,  and  his  wife,  who  had  long  been  ill,  lost  her 
reason  when  her  husband  was  erroneously  reported  to  her  as  killed.  Dr. 
Todd  removed  to  East  Guilford,  and  finally  settled  at  Killingworth. 
Connecticut,  where  he  died. 

John  Todd  was  left  parentless  when  six  years  old,  and  wn^  1;)Kcn 


ISO  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

into  the  home  of  his  aunt,  Mrs.  John  Hamilton,  of  North  Kilhngworth. 
Later  he  went  to  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  making  the  journey  afoot, 
and  hved  for  several  years  in  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Evarts.  He  then 
entered  Yale  College,  during  his  vacations  teaching  school.  During  his 
senior  year  in  college  he  engaged  in  that  writing  which  became  a  life 
habit.  His  first  articles  were  published  in  The  Seaman's  Magazine,  and 
later  in  a  little  volume.  Aside  from  his  text  books,  his  reading  hours 
were  principally  occupied  with  works  of  the  Baxter's  "  Saint's  Rest '' 
and  Doddridge's  "  Rise  and  Progress  "  class. 

On  leaving  college  Mr.  Todd  was  urged  to  teach  in  a  school  at 
Weston,  of  which  he  had  charge  during  one  of  his  vacations.  He  had 
determined,  however,  upon  the  ministry,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
he  entered  the  seminary  at  Andover.  That  place  was  then  a  great  center 
of  theological  interest;  the  classes  were  large,  and  the  professors  were 
men  of  distinguished  reputation,  among  them  being  Dr.  Ebenezer 
Porter,  Dr.  Leonard  Woods,  Dr.  Moses  Stuart  and  others  equally  able. 
It  was  during  the  floodtide  of  the  great  conflict  between  orthodoxy  and 
Unitarianism,  and  teachers  and  students  were  alike  full  of  white-heat 
enthusiasm. 

Soon  after  entering  the  seminary,  ]\'Ir.  Todd  began  to  develop  his 
jTOwers  as  a  preacher.  Hi?  first  attempt  brought  upon  him  the  dis- 
pleasure of  the  faculty.  Having  made  srme  remarks  at  a  religious 
meeting,  he  was  reprimanded  for  preaching  without  a  license,  and  he 
was  required  to  make  confession  of  his  fault.  Lie  comnlied  by  rising 
and  saving,  "  L  John  Todd,  in  the  presence  of  this  august  assembly, 
with  feelings  of  the  deepest  contrition  and  repentance,  do  express  my 

most  heartfelt  regret  and  sorrow  for  having  on  — day,  in  the 

vilbge  of ,   in   a   small   school   house,   exhorted  the  people  to 

repentance.   ?nd  to   seek  tlicir  eternal   s:^lvatinn   through   God;   ?nd   for 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  181 

such  a  crime  may  I  be  pardoned."     It  is  not  recorded  that  the  faculty 
pursued  the  wrongdoer  further. 

W  hile  a  student,  Air.  Todd  wrote  a  pungent  article  on  Swedenbor- 
gianisni,  which  was  irritating  to  the  exponents  of  that  belief.  In  his 
autobiography  he  notes  that  on  February  14,  1823,  he  began  the  writing 
of  his  first  sermon.  He  was  not  physically  strong,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  abandon  his  studies  in  search  of  recuperation,  his  condition  being 
then  so  unpromising  that  one  of  the  professors  expressed  the  belief  that 
he  was  not  long  for  this  world.  After  a  short  respite,  in  course  of 
which  he  did  some  editorial  work  in  Boston,  he  returned  to  Andover 
.Seminary,  and  was  appointed  lil)rarian.  He  now  began  to  attract  atten- 
tion as  a  speaker  and  writer,  and  frequently  appeared  before  public 
assemblages.  In  the  midst  of  his  literary  work  he  was  broug^ht  into  the 
family  of  Mr.  Willis,  proprietor  of  the  Recorder,  ^^•ho  was  the  father 
of  N.  P.  Willis  and  of  a  daughter  who  was  a  popular  writer  under  the 
pen-name  of  Fanny  Fern.  In  June,  1823,  when  he  was  twenty-three 
years  old,  Mr.  Todd  was  licensed  as  a  preacher  by  the  Suffolk  Associa- 
tion, which  included  the  orthodox  ministers  of  Boston.  After  speaking 
in  the  Park  Street  church  he  was  invited  to  settle  in  Holliston.  Soon 
after  he  deli\  ered  an  orthodox  discourse  at  Groton,  a  hotbed  of  Unita- 
rianism.  At  this  tinie  he  had  received  four  offers^ — a  mission  in  Maine, 
one  in  Virginia,  one  to  South  Carolina,  and  another  tO'  Savannah.  .Ml 
.  of  these  he  declined,  as  he  did  a  fellowship  in  the  seminary.  He  again 
preached  orthodoxv  at  Groton.  and  so  plainly  that  one  of  his  Unitarian 
hearers  said,  "  evervbodA-  who  comes  from  Andover  has  hell-fire  enough 
to  send  us  all  to  misery."  The  chinx"h  voted  to  extend  to  him  a  call. 
but  the  parish,  comprising  all  the  legal  voters  in  the  town,  would  not 
agree  to  it.  As  a  sidelight  upon  the  conditions  at  that  time,  it  is  curious 
to  note  that  at  the  election  rum  was  served  by  the  pailful,  and  was  even 


182  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

taken  into  the  meeting  house.  He  continued,  however,  to  preach  in 
Groton,  and  during  this  time  dechned  the  editorship  of  the  New  York 
Observer.  After  the  building  of  a  church,  he  was  ordained  on  January 
3,  1827,  being  then  twxnty-seven  3-ears  old.  In  a  revival  which  followed, 
Mr.  Todd  was  taken  ill  as  the  result  of  over-exertion.  He  recovered, 
however,  in  time  to  be  married  to  Mary,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brace,  of  Newington.  His  bride  had  been  a  fellow-pupil  in  the  Rev. 
Charles  Herrick's  school.  Shortly  after  entering  Andover  Seminary, 
Mr.  Todd  visited  Mr.  Brace,  who  was  so  pleased  with  the  young  man 
that  he  consented  to  a  correspondence  with  his  daughter.  Later,  wdien 
Mr.  Todd  was  twenty-three  years  old.  and  on  Miss  Brace's  eighteenth 
birthday,  the  two  young  people  drew  up  a  formal  contract  of  engage- 
ment, in  which  it  was  specified  that  they  should  marry  "  when  circum- 
stances should  render  it  convenient."  The  convenient  time  had  now 
arrived,  and  the  marriage  occurred  March  11,  1827,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  by  the  father  of  the  bride.  Mr.  Todd  had  preached  twice 
on  that  day,  previous  to  his  marriage. 

Mr.  Todd  remained  all  his  life  a  member  of  the  church  in  Yale  Col- 
lege, being  opposed  on  principle  to  holding  such  relationship  with  any 
church  of  wliich  he  was  pastor.  He  remained  at  Groton  until  1832, 
when  he  accepted  a  call  to  Northampton,  and  he  delivered  his  first  ser- 
mon there  on  January  20,  1833,  in  the  town  hall.  Ten  days  later  the 
organization  of  the  cliurch  was  completed,  and  he  was  installed  as  pastor. 
A  meeting  house  was  built  and  was  dedicated  on  the  following  Christ- 
mas. In  1835  he  aided  in  the  organization  of  a  Congregational  church 
in  Philadelphia,  and  he  was  installed  as  its  pastor  November  17.  1836, 
when  thirty-six  years  old.  A  church  edifice  was  Iniilt  and  was  dedicated 
just  a  year  later.  In  his  dedication  sermon  Mr.  Todd  made  what  he 
termed  "  a  simple  comparison  of  Congregationalism  with  other  church 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  18^ 

systems,"  and  with  such  \igor  that,  to  use  the  language  of  a  letter  writ- 
ten at  the  time,  '"  one  universal  howl  of  rage  went  up  from  Presbyterians, 
Episcopalians  and  Unitarians  alike."  Mr.  Todd's  course  lay  not  through 
unrultied  seas.  There  were  dissensions  at  times,  many  of  his  people 
desiring  a  return  to  Presb)terian  forms.  The  eventual  downfall  of  the 
church  was,  howe^■er,  due  to  an  unpayable  debt. 

In  1842,  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  Mr.  Todd  was  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  First  church  of  Pittsficld,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Shepard,  of  Lenox,  preach- 
ing the  sermon,  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year  he  brought  his  family 
and  settled  in  the  place  which  was  destined  to  be  his  home  during  the 
remainder  of  liis  life.  Shorlly  after  his  arrival,  his  house  burned  down, 
and  his  famil}'  l^arely  escaped  with  their  lives.  Within  a  year  a  par- 
sonage was  built  which  was  their  shelter  for  thirty  years.  His  life  was 
a  particularl)-  busy  one  in  all  these  years,  and  his  letters  containing  the 
narrative  are  of  intense  interest.  They  record  the  completion  of  the 
new  church  building  in  1853:  the  various  happenings  to  his  people;  his 
own  experiences  with  "all  scrts  and  conditions  of  men;"  the  death  of 
his  mother  after  a  Ifmg  life  in  which  her  diseased  mind  was  her  constant 
affliction;  the  six  years'  sta}'  in  the  home  of  his  father-in-law.  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Brace:  and  much.  more. 

His  re]:utation  had  nnw  extended  throughout  the  C(  untry.  As  early 
as  1855  ^^^  \i^'ited  the  west  and  spoke  to  twenty-two  dilierent  audiences. 
His  health  b.ecame  inipaired,  and  he  found  some  restr.ration  in  a  \isit 
to  Europe.  Tn  1869  he  journeyed  to  California  with  a  comi;any  of  Pitts- 
field  people,  and  tO(  k  part  in  the  ceremonies  of  laying  the  last  rail 
uniting  the  Central  Pacific  and  Ui'ii  n  Pacific  r'u'lroads.  making  the 
praver  upon  that  interesting  occasion,  and  which  wns  jirinted  in  ;'lm(^st 
every  newspaper  in  the  land,  lie  deliAered  se\'en  lectures  in  California, 
and  with  such  acceptabilit\-  lliat  he  was  in\-ited  to  a  pastorate  in   San 


184:  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Francisco  at  a  salary  of  $ig,coo  in  gold.  In  1870,  after  a  pastorate  of 
nearly  thirty  years,  during'  whkh  he  had  declined  numerous  offers  to  go 
elsewhere,  he  resigned,  feeling-  that  he  had  served  as  long  as  could  l)e 
expected  of  him.  and  heing  desirous  of  rest.  It  was  not  unlil  1872, 
however,  that  his  successor  was  installed  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  E.  O. 
Bartlett,  of  Providence.  In  1873  l^^  delivered  an  historical  discourse 
narrating  the  career  of  the  cli.urch  from  its  toundation  to  that  time. 

As  minister  and  man  his  inflrence  over  the  ccnnmunity  was  com- 
manding. He  advocated  fearlessly  whatever  he  lielieved  to  lie  right, 
and,  later  in  life,  was  free  from  that  higotry  which  has  lessened  the  effect 
of  the  preaching  of  many  sincere  and  really  good  men.  In  his  "  Life," 
as  edited  by  his  son,  in  the  analysis  of  the  preaching  of  this  excellent 
man,  especial  note  is  made  of  the  simplicity  of  his  style,  his  infrequent 
use  of  scientific  theology,  his  great  use  of  illustration  and  comparison, 
wlrlch  his  retentive  memory  facilitated,  the  gravitv  and  solemnitv  of  his 
sermrais,  and  his  strong  common  sense  and  deep  knowledge  of  human 
nature.  He  did  not  often  denounce  particular  sins  or  inculcate  specific 
duties,  but  aimed  rather  to  purify  the  fountain  of  human  action.  His 
power  of  pathos,  which  led  him  to  sometimes  indulge  in  what  might 
be  called  the  luxury  of  woe,  and  affect  his  hearers  to  the  point  of  weep- 
ing, gave  him  a  certain  strong  hold  upon  many.  His  enthusiasm  was 
great,  and  he  had  fine  imaginative  faculties.  In  spite  of  his  fondness 
for  the  pathetic,  he  was  fond  of  humor,  but  never  allow^ed  that  side  of 
his  nature  of  appear  A\'hen  in  the  pulpit. 

His  industry  as  a  writ':^r  continued  throughout  his  life.  In  1835 
he  published  his  "  Student's  Manual,"  wdn'ch  w^as  wddelv  dstributed  in 
the  United  States,  and  of  w'hich  150,000  copies  were  sold  in 
England.  His  "  Sabbath  S'diool  Teacher."  published  about  1840,  met 
with  great  sr.ccess.     In  18  14  he  wrote  a  very  interesting  history  of  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  185 

Berkshire  Jubilee,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  principal  managers.  In 
1848  he  was  induced  to  assume  the  editorial  work  on  the  "  Berkshire 
Agriculturist,"  but  he  continued  the  work  only  eleven  weeks.  His 
"  Lecture  to  Children,"  which  was  really  his  first  book,  went  through 
many  editions  in  England,  as  well  as  in  the  United  States,  and  was 
translated  into  French,  German,  Greek,  Bulgarian,  Tamil,  and  other  lan- 
gxiages.  His  "  Stories  on  the  Shorter  Catechism  "  were  well  received. 
In  1867  he  published  a  "  Treatise  on  Woman's  Rights,"  wdiich  brought 
upon  him  the  se\'erest  criticism  of  Gail  Hamilton. 

Dr.  Todd  maintained  the  most  pleasant  relations  with  other  pro- 
fessions, and  especially  with  medical  men,  who  made  him  an  honorary 
member  of  the  Berkshire  ]\Iedical  Society.  To  the  end  of  his  life  he 
kept  up  interest  in  the  progress  of  science,  and  in  all  the  progressive 
movements  of  the  day.  He  kept  a  workshop  well  stocked  with  lathes 
and  tools,  and  many  specimens  of  his  mechanical  skill  are  highly  treas- 
ured by  their  possessors.  He  was  especially  devoted  to  his  home,  his 
church  and  his  town,  and  county,  and  never  allowed  opportunity  to 
praise  them  go  unimproved.  He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  all  public 
improvements.  His  social  (jualities  were  surpassing,  and  his  extreme 
aptness  for  after-dinner  speeches  made  him  much  sought  after.  For 
more  than  twenty  years  of  his  later  life  he  visited  the  Adirondacks,  hunt- 
ing and  fishing.  He  was  an  expert  authority  upon  fishing  apparatus, 
yet  preferred  hunting-  as  a  personal  sport.  In  boating  he  was  as  venture- 
some as  a  youngster.  In  all  his  trit)s  on  pleasure  bent,  he  was  one  of 
the  most  genial  and  comijanionable  of  men. 

Dr.  Todd  was  a  trustee  of  Williams  College,  and  he  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Di^'inity  from  that  institution  in  1845.  He  died 
August  2,  1S73,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,  and  the  entire  body  of 
|:)eople,  of  all  denominations  and  of  none,  attended  his  funeral. 


J 86  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

CEBRA  QUACKENBUSH. 

Among  the  men  whose  pubHc  spirit  and  enterprise  liave  contributed 
in  large  measure  to  the  substantial  development  of  Pittsfield  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  forms  the  caption  for  these  memoirs  is  justly  entitled 
to  the  general  recognition  which  he  receives  as  a  public  benefactor.     He 
is  of  Hollandese  extraction,  a  representative  of  that  splendid  American 
type  that  has  been  so  important  a  factor  in  our  national  progress,  which 
through   numerous   generations   has   retained  the  characteristics  of  the 
early  Dutch  settlers  of  the  Hudson  valley,  indomitable  will,  persever- 
ance, thrift  and  conscientiousness.     Of  the  ancestors  of  Cebra  Ouack- 
enbush  William  Cebra,  maternal  grandfather,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Pa- 
triot army  during  the  war  of  the  revolution.      Anthony  Bries.   great- 
great-great-grandfather,   held    the   office   of  high   constable   in   Albany, 
New  York,  in  1696;  deacon  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,   1697,  and 
one  of  the  number  who  attained  title   for  the  city  of  Albany  to   the 
"Beaver  Creek"  lands.     His  son  Hendrick    (great-great-grandfather) 
was  a  free  holder  in  Albany  in  1731,  and  alderman  1738.     He  married  a 
Van  Vechten,  and  the  son.  Gerret  Theumisse  Bries  (now  spelled  Breese) 
held  numerous  offices  of  trust  in  Albany.     Gerret  married  a  Grosbeck 
in  1774.     The  families  Bries,  Van  Vechten  and  Grosbeck  were  all  rep- 
resented prominently  in  the  military  and  civic  life  of  the  colonial  and 
revolutionary  periods.     The  Van  Schaicks  are  also  among  the  collateral 
connections   of   Major  Quackenbush.      The   founder  of   the   American 
family  now  known  as  Quackenbush  was 

Pieter  Quackenboss  (originally  Van  Ouackenbosch)  who  as  early 
as  1668  was  engaged  in  the  making  of  brick  in  Albany,  New  York. 
His  son  was 

Adrian   Quackenboss,   who  married  in    1699,   Catherine,   daughter 


CUr^ 


CL 


(gju^^ine'xff^^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  187 

of  S3'brant  Van  Schaick.  and  settled  at  Schaghticoke.  To  this  couple 
eight  children  were  born  and  their  names  show  the  habit  of  educated 
Dutch  people  of  that  period  of  Latinizing'.  The  records  show  that  these 
children  were  l)ai)tized  on  dates  ranging  from  January  7,  1700,  to 
October  29,  1719.  Sybrant,  baptized  June  14,  1702,  married  Elizabeth 
Knickerbocker,  February  7,  1725.  and  of  their  children  John  served  in 
the  French  and  Indian  war,  was  captured  by  the  Indians,  from  whom 
after  suffering  many  hardships  he  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  Of 
the  children  of  Adrian  Ouackenboss  the  one  in  direct  line  with  the 
immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs  began  an  Anglicization  of  the  family 
name  by  adopting  the  spelling  Ouackenbush.     He  was 

John  Quackenbush.  born  October  28.  1710,  married  Elizabeth 
Rumbley,  December  22,  1730.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  1765  on  what 
was  then  known  as  the  "  Schneyder  Patent,"  which  had  been  granted 
by  the  crown  in  1762,  a  10,000  acre  tract  on  the  eastern  border  of  the 
present  town  of  Hoosick,  New  York,  subsequently  called  Mapletown. 
He  had  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  His  son  Adrian, 
born  in  1746.  died  a  Patriot  soldier  on  a  revolutionary  battlefield.  Of 
these  children  the  great-grandfather  of  Cebra  Quackenbush  was 

Gosen  (English  rendition  Hosea)  Quackenbush,  born  Mav  27, 
1744,  rendered  valuable  service  during  the  war  of  the  res^olution  in  the 
field,  at  the  head  of  his  command  and  as  colonel  in  the  second  military,'' 
department  at  Albany.  FTe  married  and  left  three  children,  the  eldest, 
grandfather  of  the  immediate  subject  of  these  n^emoirs,  being 

John  Quackenbush,  who'  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Peter 
Ostrander.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were  Peter.  Benjamin.  Jobn 
L.  and  Susannah.     Of  these 

Peter  Quackenbush.  born  at  Hoosick,  Mav  31.  1807.  Avas  for  a 
number  of  years  senior  mcniber  of  the  leading  powder  manufacturing 


188  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

firm  of  Quackenbush,  Steer  &  Armstrong,  whose  plant  was  located  at 
Fair  Haven,  Vermont.  He  was  married  November  13,  1833,  to  Mary 
Cebra,  daughter  of  James  and  Maria  (Cebra)  Breese.  James  Breese 
was  a  descendant  of  Hendrick  Breese,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Al- 
bany, New  York,  and  whose  son  Anthony  w^as  high  constable  of  that 
citv  in  1696.  Mr.  Peter  Quackenbush  purchased  a  farm  of  his  wife's 
father  at  Hoosick,  upon  which  he  resided  for'many  years.  Mrs.  Quack- 
enbush is  described  in  the  "  Annals  of  Hoosick  "  as  "  a  lady  rich  in 
graces  and  virtues."  Collaterally  connected  with  this  family  was  Maria 
Bogardus,  whose  mother  was  Anneke  Jans,  from  wdiom  Trinity  Church 
acquired  its  now  priceless  real  estate.  Anthony  Breese,  son  of  Henr\' 
Breese  and  Wyntje  Van  Vechten  Breese,  married  Carayutje  Yates  about 
1759.  John  Yates  Cebra,  a  great-uncle,  from  wdiom  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  received  his  given  name,  married  in  April,  1809,  Mary 
Harriman,  a  daughter  of  a  distinguished  Long  Island  family. 

Cebra  Quackenbush  w^as  born  at  Hoosick,  Rensselaer  county, 
New  York,  September  7,  1838.  He  attended  Ball  Seminary,  Hoosick, 
and  Hudson  River  Institute,  Claverack.  He  immediately  thereafter 
entered  upon  the  serious  duty  of  obtaining  a  business  education  by  ac- 
cepting a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  A.  Thayer  &  Son,  Hoosick  Falls, 
where  the  service  and  salary  were  in  inverse  ratio,  the  latter  being  $5 
a  month  and  board,  the  former  long  hours  and  miscellaneous  drudgery. 
Mr.  Ouackenbush's  inceptive  business  experience  on  his  own  account 
w^as  in  Hoosick  Falls,  whence  in  1865  he  came  to  Pittsfield  and  pur- 
chased the  American  House,  a  then  comparatively  unknown  hostelry, 
and  within  a  few  years  had  secured  a  patronage  of  the  best  class  of 
travelers  wdiich  tested  its  utmost  capacity  and  necessitated  its  material 
enlargement.  In  1876  he  practically  retired  from  his  business  activ- 
ities still,  however,  retaining  his  proprietary  interest  in  the  American 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  189 

House  until  1889,  when  he  leased  the  property  to  Messrs.  Plumb  and 
Clark,  who  have  had  continuous  and  conspicuous  success  in  the  con- 
duct of  the  hotel,  which  since  1898  has  been  known  as  The  New  Ameri- 
can. The  year  last  named  dates  the  completion  of  the  commodious  and 
elegant  new  structure  and  the  remodelling  and  refitting  of  the  rear  of 
the  original  structure,  the  building  in  its  entirety  being  one  of  the  im- 
posing edifices  of  North  street.  It  was  built  upon  plans  of  J.  AIc- 
Arthur  Vance,  architect,  by  ]\Iessrs.  Dodge  and  De\-annay.  builders, 
and  may  justly  be  pronounced  upon  both  mechanical  and  architectural 
grounds  a  most  substantial  improvement  to  the  county  seat.  As  a  hostelry 
it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  it  almost  monopolizes  the  patronage  of  that 
best  informed  class  of  all  patrons  of  hotels,  the  commercial  traveler. 
Many  puljlic  dinners  have  been  gi\en  at  the  hotel,  a  notable  and  interest- 
ingly unique  one  during  Mr.  Quackenbush's  administration  being  that 
of  June  30,  1870,  to  the  citizens  of  Pittsfield,  who  had  reached  or 
passed  the  age  of  seventy,  at  which  the  late  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Plunkett 
presided. 

Another  of  the  building  enterprises  of  Air.  Ouackenbush  was  his 
erection  in  1871-72.  in  conjunction  with  Messrs.  ]\Iun}'an.  ])ui]ders,  of 
the  Academy  of  Music,  which  shortly  after  its  dedication  in  1872  came 
into  the  sole  possession  of  Mr.  Ouackenl)ush.  In  i88o  four  stores  were 
added  by  him  to  the  building.  Throughout  a  long-  term  of  years  the 
academy  was  the  only  building  in  Pittsfield  suitable  for  iniblic  meet- 
ings, theatrical  or  musical  entertainments,  and  its  owner  has  many 
times  donated  its  use  for  benevolent  and  patriotic  jiurposes.  The  great 
storm  of  1877  destroyed  a  portion  of  one  of  the  end  walls  of  the 
building,  and  its  owner  was  accorded  a  complimentary  benefit  by  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Pittsfield,  who  voiced  the  appreciative  sentiment  of  the 
commimitv  in  announcing  the  benefit  in  question   in  this  wise  :      "  The 


190  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

obligations  of  the  town  of  Pittsfield  to  the  proprietorship  of  the  Acad- 
emy of  Music  are  not  diminished  by  the  fact  that  its  ownership  is  un- 
divided and  has  not  sought  aid  outside  of  itself  in  erecting  and  main- 
taining a  building  which  contributes  to  the  pleasure  of  every  liberal 
minded  citizen.  Had  the  injury  inflicted  by  the  late  gale  been  sufficient 
to  destroy  the  building,  the  town  might  have  waited  long  for  another 
like  it."  From  1874  to  1878  Mr.  Quackenbush  experimented  in  manu- 
facturing investments  upon  tlie  favorable,  but  as  it  proved,  over-sanguine 
representations  of  friends  interested  in  the  Eagle  Mowing  &  Reaping 
Machine  Company  of  Albany,  New  York.  During  this  period  he  served 
as  a  director  of  the  company,  and  for  a  part  of  the  time  as  its  treas- 
urer, an  experience  which  cost  him  $100,000,  but  left  him  with  an  un- 
blemished reputation  for  business  integrity.  Mr.  Quackenbush  retains 
the  old  homestead  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  there  passes  his  sum- 
mers, while  the  winter  seasons  have  been  spent  mainly  in  New  York 
city  and  abroad.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution and  Holland  Society  of  New  York;  of  the  Young  Men's  Asso- 
ciation of  Albany,  and  since  1863  of  Rensselaer  Lodge  No.  400,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  of  Hoosick  Falls,  New  York. 

Mrs.  Quackenbush  died  September  22,  1891,  leaving  three  daugh- 
ters, Ada  Cebra  McLean,  Mary  Annette  McCandliss  and  Florence  Dew- 
ey Graves. 

On  December  7.  1892,  Major  Quackenbush  married  Minna  Wilk- 
inson Millard,  an  accomplished  lady  of  New  York  city. 

CLAPP  FAMILY. 

The  familv  from  which  is  descended  Mrs.  Mary  Campbell  Bagg,  of 
Pittsfield.  Massachusetts,  was  ]:ilanted  in  America  by  Captain  Roger 
Clapp,  wh(^  was  born  in  Salcombe  Regis,  Devonshire,  England,  April  6. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  191 

1609,  died  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  February  2,  1691 ;  married,  No- 
vember 6,  1633.  Johanna  Ford,  born  June  8,  161 7,  died  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  June  29,  1695,  daughter  of  Thomas  Ford,  of  Dorchester, 
England,  and  of  W  indsor,  Connecticut. 

He  came  o\er  in  ihe  ship  "  Mary  and  John,"  with  the  first  settlers 
of  Dorchester,  whc  arri\ed  there  about  June  17,  1630.  He  was  select- 
man in  Boston  in  1^137.  and  fourteen  times  thereafter.  In  1665  he  took 
command  of  a  stone  castle  on  a  small  island  about  three  miles  from 
Boston,  of  which  castle  he  was  captain  for  twentv-one  years.  Previous 
to  that  time  it  is  thought  that  he  lived  near  the  causewav  leading  to 
Little  Necl:.  now  South  Boston.  The  "  Memoirs  of  Captain  Roger 
Clapp  "  were  printed  in  1731.  extracts  from  which,  wth  a  verbatim  copy 
of  his  will,  are  given  in  the  Clapp  genealogy.  He  was  a  founder  of  the 
church  in  Dorchester.     He  had  fourteen  children.     The  sixth  was 

PreserA'ed  Clapp  (2).  born  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts.  Novem- 
ber 23.  1643:  died  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  September  20,  1720; 
married,  June  4,  t668,  Sarah  Newbur\ ,  died  October  3,  1716,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Newbury,  of  A^'indsor,  Connecticut.  He  settled  in  North- 
ampton at  about  the  age  of  twenty,  when  it  was  a  week's  journey  from 
Boston,  over  a  path  through  the  forest  where  the  trees  were  marked. 
He  was  a  leading  man  in  the  town,  a  captain,  representative  to  the  gen- 
eral court,  and  a  ruling  elder  in  the  chtirch.  He  had  eight  children.  The 
fifth  was 

Lieutenant  Samuel  Clapp  (^^.  born  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts, 
in  1677:  died  in  1761:  married,  in  1697,  Sarah  Bartlett,  who  died  Au- 
gust 7,  1703.  He  married  (second)  September  15,  1704,  Thankful 
King,  who  died  September  18,  1705.  He  married  (third)  ]\[arch  17, 
1708,  Mary  Sheldon,  born  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  in  1687, 
daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Sheldon.     Mary  Sheldon  was  taken  cap- 


l'^2  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

live  at  Deerfield,  Massachusetts,  in  1704,  by  the  Indians,  who  took  her 
to  Canada.  Slie  was  engaged  to  Jonathan  Strong,  who  supposed  she 
was  dead  and  married  some  one  else,  so  that  when  she  returned  she 
married  Mr.  Clapp,  but  on  his  death,  Mr.  Strong,  being  a  widower,  she 
married  him  when  she  vvas  between  seventy  and  eighty  years  old.  Mr. 
Clapp  was  lieutenant  of  a  military  company  in  Northampton.  He  had 
seven  children.     His  seventh  child,  the  first  by  his  third  wife,  was 

Ebenezer  Clapp  (4),  bnrn  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  October 
13,  1726;  died  September  22,  1797;  married  in  Deerfield,  Massachusetts, 
January  10,  1750,  Catherine  Catlin.  born,  January  8,  1728-9,  died  April 
21,  1798,  daughte';  of  Captain  John  and  Mary  (Munn)  Catlin.  He 
lived  in  Northampton,  and  served  in  the  French  and  Indian  war  in  1746 
and  1747.     He  had  ten  children.     The  first  was 

Ebenezer  Clapp  (5),  born  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  in  1757; 
died  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  June  16,  1833;  married.  May  5,  1778, 
Ann  Tileston.  of  Dorchester.  He  lived  in  Northampton,  and  served 
his  time  at  the  tanning  business  with  Colonel  Ebenezer  Clapp,  of  Dor- 
chester.    He  had  six  children.     The  third  was 

Jason  Clapp  (6),  born  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1782;  died  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  October  29,  1868;.  mar- 
ried Patience  Stockbridge.  who  died  July  18,  1839.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) widow  Cecelia  (Eldredge)  Luce.  He  and  his  wife  Patience  were 
admitted  to  the  church  in  1827.  Mrs.  Luce  was  admitted  in  1830.  He 
canie  to  Pittsfield,  and,  having  been  an  apprentice  in  the  carriage  busi- 
ness from  the  age  of  seventeen,  became  the  foreman  of  L.  Pomeroy's 
manufactorv  and  remained  with  him  for  six  years.  In  18 10  he  began 
business  for  himself,  and  in  1840^  associated  his  son  Edwin  with  'him 
under  the  firm  name  of  Jason  Clapp  &  Son.  He  employed  from  forty 
to  fiftv  men,  and  in  18^6  he  had  had  about  three  hundred  apiprentices 


/f^/tv^'^^ljnu-.-^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  193 

since  beginnirg  business.  He  turned  cut  the  best  kind  of  work,  one  of 
his  carriages  being  given  to  President  Pierce  by  some  Boston  friends. 
He  had  medals  awarded  for  his  fine  carriages.  He  owned  and  operated 
the  stage  route  between  Albany  and  Boston,  in  the  conduct  of  this  Ivusi- 
ness  having  an  associate  in  his  son  Edwin.  He  was  twice  elected  repre- 
sentative to  the  general  court.  He  had  three  children.  The  second 
was 

Edwin  Clapp  (7),  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  ]\Iay  i,  1809; 
died  July  27,  18S4:  '.narried,  June  2(\  1834,  Emily  Peck,  who  was  born 
in  181 3,  died,  April  i;i^,  1840,  daughter  of  Captain  Jabez  and  Alice 
(Alillard)  Peck.  He  married  (second),  December  30,  1851,  Alary  Mar- 
tin, who  was  born  July  30,  1818,  died  No\ember  4,  19GI,  daughter  of 
Honorable  Calvin  and  JMary  (Campbell)  Martin.. 

Mr.  Clapp  was  taken  into  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  carriage 
business  in  1840,  and  was  a  successful  business  man  and  prominent  in 
public  affairs.  He  took  an  interest  in  the  fire  department  and  was  at 
one  time  foreman  of  the  Housatonic  Engine  Company.  He  v^'as  a  di- 
rector of  the  Agricidtural  National  Bank,  the  Berkshire  County  Savings 
Bank,  the  Pittsfield  Coal  Gas  Company,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Berkshire 
Athenaeum.  He  had  three  children  by  his  first  wife  and  they  dicl  in 
infancv.  Of  his  two  children  by  his  second  wife,  the  one  surviving  is 
Mary  Campbell  Clapp,  wife  of  :\llen  H.  Bagg  (see  sketch). 

AUCxUSTUS   KEEPER   BOOAL 

A  leading  physician  of  Adams,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts, 
is  Dr.  A.  K.  Boom,  a  native  of  Albany,  New  York,  born  Alay  13,  1866, 
son  of  James  and  Lucy  (Selby)  Boom.  Paternally  he  is  descended 
from  Alatthaus  Boom,   who  with  a  brother  Johannas,  were  among  the 


IIH  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

early  Dutch  settlers  df  I'^ort  Orange  (now  Albany),  New  York,  Matthaus 
Boom  married  Maria  Hilten,  April  25,  1752.  They  had  one  child. 
Maria  (Hilten)  Boom  died  and  Matthaus  Boom  then  married  Josina 
Seger,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  Of  these  Nicholas  Boom,  born 
November  23,  1763,  entered  the  Colonial  army  -when  fourteen  years  of 
age,  serving  in  Captain  Nicholas  Van  Rensselaer's  company,  belonging  to 
the  First  Regiment,  New  York  Line,  Colonel  Van  Schaick,  commandant. 
Nicholas  Boom  while  on  a  scouting  expedition  out  of  Fort  Stanwix  in 
1778  met  with  an  accident  that  crippled  him  for  life,  ultimately  losing" 
his  leg".  He  married  Elizabeth  Wands,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
Margaret  and  John.  Nicholas  died  in  18 16.  His  son  John  married 
Mary  Patterson  and  their  children  were:  James  and  Elizabeth.  James 
married  Lucy  Selby  and  their  son  is  the  immediate  subject  of  these 
memoirs. 

Augustus  Keefer  Boom  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the 
public  and  high  schools  of  Albany,  New  York,  and  there  took  up  the 
study  of  medicir.e  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  John  Swinburne,  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  Empire  state. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  Wooster  Univer- 
sity, Cleveland,  Ohio  (now  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons)  and 
immediately  thereafter  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Adams.  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  where  he  has  ever  since  been 
located.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Northern  Berkshire  Society,  and  a 
Fellow  of  Massachusetts  Medical  Society.  Fraternally  his  association 
is  with  T.  O.  O.  F.  and  B.  P.  O:  E.  His  public  service  has  been  as 
town  phvsician  and  memlier  of  the  brjard  of  health,  in  both  of  which 
cai:iacities  he  offci:ite(l  for  a  number  of  years.  He  also  rendered  effective 
service  as  assistant  engineer  of  Adams  fire  department,  an  elective  of- 
fice.     His  political   affiliation   is  Republican.     Dr.   Boom  is  one  of  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  .         105 

Ijoard   of  United   States  pension  examiners,   his   associates  being-   Drs. 
O.  S.  Roberts  of  Pittsfield.  and  Dorville  M.  Wilcox  of  Lee. 

He  was  married  Jannar}^  26,  1887,  to  Maria,  daughter  of  Anthony 
and  Harriet  de  Rouville  of  Albany.  Of  the  children  born  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Boom,  the  first  born.  Lulu  May,  died  when  eleven  years  of  age. 
The  surviving  children  are  Florence  and  Hazel. 


JAMES  MADLSOX  BARKER. 

The  death  of  Judge  James  Madison  Barker,  which  occurred  at  the 
Union  Club  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  October  2,  1905.  removed  from 
Berkshire  county.  Massachusetts,  one  of  its  representative  citizens,  a  man 
widely  known  for  his  high  character,  great  ability  and  rare  personal 
charm,  a  man  of  high  ideals,  a  wise  and  sound  adviser  in  business  af- 
fairs, both  of  the  individual,  corporation  and  the  community,  identified 
widi  healthy  and  honorable  institutions,  and  \\\\o  served  his  native  state 
in  a  judicial  capacity  for  about  a  fjuarter  (,f  a  century,  first  on  the  supe- 
rior bench,  ?a^^\  later  as  a  jndge  of  the  highest  court  in  the  common- 
wealth. 

He  was  born  hi  Pittsfield,  ?yTassachusetts,  October  21^,  1839,  a  son 
of  John  V.  and  Sarah  ( Apthorj^)  Barker,  and  grandson  on  the  maternal 
=ide  of  James  Apthorp,  of  Hinsdale,  IMassachusetts,  whose  house  was 
situated  on  the  road  running  north,  past  the  cemetery.  He  pursued  his 
preparatory  studies  at  \ariou.s  schools  and  academies  and  entered  \\\\\- 
iams  College,  \\here  he  took  high  rank,  and  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  i860.  He  studied  law  in  New  York  city  and  at 
the  Llarvrird  Law  School,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  January  13,  1863. 
.Shortly  afterward  he  opened  an  office  in  Pittsfield  and  continued  in 
practice,  being  associated  at  different  times  with   Charles   N.   Emerson 


196  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  Thomas  P.  Pingree,  and  also  for  a  time  ^vas  in  the  office  of  Rock- 
well &  Colt.  In  Decemher,  1873,  he  was  chosen  a  director  of  the  Berk- 
shire Life  Insurance  Company  of  Pittsfield,  and  in  1876  became  vice- 
president,  succeeding  the  late  Edward  Boltwood,  who  became  president 
as  the  successor  of  the  late  Thomas  F.  Plunkett.  He  was  chief  legal 
adviser  of  the  company,  and  his  counsel  was  of  great  value  to  all  of  his 
associates  in  the  c(.'nduct  of  the  business. 

Pie  was  a  m.ember  of  the  stale  house  of  representatives  in  1872-73 
and  served  on  the  committee  on  railroads,  which  included  in  its  member- 
ship two  men  \\ho  afterward  ser\-ed  with  him  in  the  superior  court, 
Judges  Charles  P.  Thompson  and  John  ^^^  Hammond,  the  latter  being 
witli  him  also  on  the  supreme  bench.  It  was  during  that  vear  that  the 
great  Boston  fire  <:>ccurred  and  Governor  ^^'ashburn  convened  the  legis- 
lature in  special  session.  That  sitting  of  the  great  and  general  court 
will  be  especially  rememl::ered  because  of  the  resolution  censuring  Charles 
Sinnner,  which  was  adopted  in  the  house  b}'  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and 
three  years  to  sixty-six  na}'S,  an  act  of  which  Massachusetts  was  after- 
ward heartily  ashamed.  It  was  to  the  credit  of  Mr.  Barker  that  he  was 
recorded  in  the  negative  on  that  vote.  The  following'  year  the  harsh 
and  unseemly  action  was  rescinded  by  both  branches  of  the  legislature, 
happily  before  Senator  Sumrer  died.  The  next  }-ear  Mr.  Barker  was 
re-elected,  and  served  on  the  same  committee,  one  of  whose  members 
was  the  late  A.  L.  Soule.  of  Springfield.  In  1873-75  Air.  Barker  was  a 
commissioner  to  iriCjuire  into  the  expediency  of  tax  and  exemption  law 
revision,  and  in  1881-82  Avas  a  member  of  the  commission  on  consolida- 
tion of  the  public  statutes.  In  1882  he  was  appointed  to  the  superior 
court  bench  h\  Governor  Long,  to  whom  fell  the  duty  of  making  an 
unusual  number  of  judges,  and  in  1891,  was  promoted  to  the  bench  of 
the  supreme  iudicial  court  by  Governor  Russell.     Mr.  Barker  possessed 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  197 

a  finel}  -balanced  mind,  and  in  his  long  career  as  judge  his  opinions  were 
valued  ])y  al!  those  who  love  justice  and  right.  The  distinction  he  sought 
was  to  faithfully  discharge  the  exacting  duties  incident  to  his  position, 
and  he  never  was  satisfied  unless  he  reached  the  heart  of  a  case  and 
viewed  it  from  e\-ery  standpoint.  He  was  a  prominent  delegate  to  the 
Republican  national  convention,  which  was  dield  in  Chicago  in  June, 
1880.  That  was  the  year  when  the  movement  for  a  third  term  for  Gen- 
eral Grant  failed,  anJ.  a  disposition  to  turn  to  Mr.  Blaine  as  the  alterna- 
tive was  headed  off  by  the  nomination  of  Garfield  and  Arthur.  In  the 
issue  between  those  Vx'ho'  called  for  a  higher  standard  in  the  civil  service 
and  those  who  demanded  a  continuance  of  the  spoils  system,  Mr.  Barker 
allied  himself  with  the  reform  ^^■ing,  and  labored  earnestly  with  his  asso- 
ciates on  the  Massachusetts  delegation  to  secure  in  the  party  platform 
an  honest  expression  in  favor  of  reforming  the  ci\  il  service.  On  the 
occasion  of  the  inaugtu'ation  of  Pittsfield's  first  city  government  Judge 
Barker  delivered  an  address  remarkable  for  its  review  of  the  past  and 
its  prophecy  for  the  future.  He  also  delivered  the  address  at  the  laying 
of  the  cornerstone  of  the  Thompson  Memorial  chapel  at  Williamstown. 
At  the  time  of  the  celebration  of  the  centennial  of  the  Congreg'ational 
church  at  Hinsdale  in  1895,  Ji-idge  Barker  was  one  of  the  speakers. 

Interested  in  all  things  relating  to  the  history  of  the  county,  Judge 
Barker  was  a  member  of  th.e  IMassachusetts  Historical  Society  and  the 
Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  Society.  He  w-as  president  of  the 
Berkshire  Athenaeum  and  Museum,  a  director  of  the  Pittsfield  National 
Bank,  a  member  of  the  First  church  parish,  though  not  of  the  churcli 
societv,  the  Monday  Evening  Club,  the  Park  Club  and  the  Country  Club 
of  Pittsfield.  He  was  also  deeply  interested  in  educational  matters  and 
served  as  a  trustee  of  Williams  College,  his  alma  mater,  and  of  the 
Clark  Institution   for  Deaf  Mutes.     He  was  literary  in  his  tastes  and 


3  98  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

his  pajDers,  covering  a  wide  range  of  subjects,  were  invariably  charac- 
terized by  a  breadth  of  vision,  depth  of  thought  and  hicidity  of  expres- 
sion that  were  most  charming.  One  of  the  most  recent  of  his  essays 
that  found  its  way  to  the  pubhc  had  to  do  with  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History  and  Art  which  Zenas  Crane,  of  Dalton,  presented  to  Pittsfield. 
When  the  addition  to  the  institution  w^as  completed,  Judge  Barker  wrote 
an  appreciation  of  it,  which  was  remarkable  for  its  elegant  diction  and 
expressiveness  He  dwelt  upon  the  new  opportunty  for  rational  enjoy- 
ment in  this  community  and  of  the  widened  field  for  study  and  reflec- 
tion it  offered.  He  was  a  good  listener  as  well  as  a  forcible  and  able 
speaker,  and  his  judgment  on  a  variety  of  matters  commanded  instant 
respect.  He  was  an  earnest  ad^  ocate  of  out-door  life  and  activity,  was 
an  habitual  visitor  to  the  golf  course  and  a  player  of  ability,  and  also 
got  much  enjoyment  from  hunting,  being  a  good  shot.  A  favorite  resort 
of  his  in  the  Eerkshires  was  Windsor  hill,  where  a  shooting  box  is  main- 
tained and  where  he  went  frequently. 

Judge  Barker  married  in  Bath,  New  York,  September  21,  1864, 
Helena  Whiting,  daughter  of  Levi  Carter  and  Pamelia  Nelson  (Woods) 
Whiting.  Mrs.  Barker  died  several  years  ago.  The  surviving  relatives 
are:  Olive  and  Elizabeth  Barker,  who  live  at  the  home,  76  Bartlett 
avenue;  Alice  Barker,  a  student  in  Smith  College;  Mrs.  Harry  Day,  of 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  daughters;  a  son  John,  who  is  a  practicing 
attorney  in  Boston;  two  brothers,  John  V.  Barker,  Jr.,  of  Barkersville, 
and  Charles  Barker,  and  a  sister.  Miss  Sarah  Barker,  of  Barkersville. 
The  funeral  services  of  Judge  Barker  were  held  at  the  First  Church  of 
Christ  in  Pittsfield,  October  5,  1905,  and  were  attended  by  the  justices 
.  of  the  supreme  and  superior  courts.  The  various  courts  adjourned  as 
a  mark  of  respect  to  his  memory,  and  the  flag  on  the  court  house  was 
placed  at  half-staff  as  soon  as  his  death  was  announced.     On  the  bench 


^■-d 


BERKSHIRE  CO  UNTY  1  !»9 

Tiuige  Barker  was  tlie  keen,  far-seeing,  aljle  and  nnineju.diced  servant, 
viewing  from  the  broad  plane  of  intelligent  interpretation  of  the  law, 
all  cases  that  came  before  hin^  At  home  he  was  the  interested,  earnest 
and  useful  citizen,  and  his  life  came  as  near  the  ideal  as  it  is  possible  to 
attain.  He  stro\e  always  lo  do  exact  and  equal  justice  to  all  men.  and 
that  he  succeeded  will  l:;e  the  verdict  of  those  who  knew  his  worth. 


CUMMINGS   C.   CHESNEY. 

Few  New  England  counties  of  approximate  population  can  present 
as  great  an  array  of  strong  men  who  have  been  factors  in  their  develop- 
ment as  can  the  county  of  Berkshire,  Massachusetts.  To  the  extended 
list  of  those  nati\-e  to  the  territory  in  question  wdio  may  be  appropriately 
grouped  in  this  connection  must  be  added  also  a  number  alien  to  the  soil, 
in  various  fields  of  thought  and  labor,  wdiom  force  of  circumstances  ha\-e 
located  wdthin  its  borders.  Of  the  latter  class  the  gentleman  whose  name 
forms  the  caption  for  these  memoirs  is  a  conspicuous  example. 

Cumm.ings  C.  Chesney,  first  vice-president  of  Stanley  Electric  Manu- 
facturing Company,  was  born  in  Selins  Grove.  Snyder  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. October  28,  1863,  son  of  John  C.  and  Jane  (McFall)  Chesney, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  attendance  upon  the  public  and  high 
school  of  Northumberland  was  supplemented  1)}'  the  course  of  Blooms- 
burg  State  Normal  school,  and  this  ^^'as  followetl  b}-  his  entrance  into 
Pennsylvania  State  C(  liege,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with 
the  class  of  '85.  The  honors  which  ni.arked  his  college  course  were  the 
sophomore  prize  for  mathematics,  junior  i)rize  for  chemistry,  and  junior 
prize  for  oratory.  His  schola'^tic  achievements  were  not  his  only  dis- 
tinction during  these  student  days,  as  he  was  keenly  interested  in 
athletics   generall}-   and   baseball   particularl}-.    and    won   renown   on  the 


'200  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

InW  field  as  one  of  the  best  catchers  and  coaches  in  the  country.  Dur- 
ing;" the  year  fohowing'  his  graduation  he  was  assistant  to  the  professor 
of  chemistry  of  his  ahna  mater,  and  during  this  period  also  captained 
the  college  ball  team  with  such  splendid  success  as  to  challenge  the 
attention  of  lovers  of  the  national  game  throughout  the  country.  It 
was  perhaps  not  an  unmixed  evil  that  he  was  seriously  injured  on  the 
ball  field  at  the  close  of  the  season  of  "86,  if  thereby  he  was  deterred 
from  entering  the  ranks  of  professional  league  ball  players  as  a  number 
of  his  associates  were  induced  to  do.  However  brilliant  his  career 
might  and  doubtless  would  liave  been  in  this  field  of  athletics,  it  could 
in  no  measure  have  compensated  for  an}/  slightest  deviation  from  that 
]}ath  which  he  seems  to  ha\^e  been  destined  to  follow,  and  which  has 
placed  his  name  with  those  of  Franklin.  Tesla,  Edison,  the  Fields, 
Morse.  Marconi.  Stanlev,  Kelly,  Thompson,  and  others  wdio  through 
wonderful  in\-ention  and  discovery  have  applied  that  mighty  force,  elec- 
tricity, to  the  world's  use. 

When  partially  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  accident  mentioned, 
Mr.  Chesnev  accepted  the  position  of  professor  of  mathematics  and 
natural  science  at  Doylestown  (Pennsylvania)  Seminary.  This  con- 
nection continued  until  November,  1888,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
position  as  experimentnl  chemist  in  the  laboratory  of  William  Stanley, 
at  Great  Barrington.  which  A\as  operated  in  the  interests  of  the  West- 
inghouse  Electric  Compariy.  In  the  summer  of  1889  this  laboratory  was 
transferred  to  the  shops  of  the  United  States  Electric  Lighting  Com- 
]>anv,  Newark,  New  Jersey,  then  a  recent  addition  to  the  Westinghouse 
plants.  Here  Mr.  Chesney  continued  to  be  employed  until  November, 
1890,  in  experimenting  along  electro-chemical  lines  and  in  designing' 
electric  dynamos  and  motors.  He  then  in  company  with  Mr.  William 
Stanlev,    Jr.,   returned   to   Berkshire  county   for  the  purpose  of  estab- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  201 

lishing-  an  electric  maiuifactnring-  company.  A  stock  company  was 
formed  at  Pittsfiekl  with  a  capital  of  $25,000  to  which  Messrs.  W.  A. 
\\aiittlesey.  W.  R.  Plunkett,  W.  W.  Gamwell,  Charles  E.  Hihbard,  and 
others  were  snhscribers,  and  the  Stanley  Electric  Manufacturing-  Com- 
pany was  then  modestly  installed  among  the  manufacturing-  plants  of 
the  Berkshire  Hills.  In  1891  the  Stanley  Laboratory  Company  was 
formed  in  which  Messrs.  William  Stanley,  Jr.,  C.  C.  Chesney  and  John 
F.  Kelly  were  associated  in  electrical  engineeringi  experimental  work, 
with  the  especial  end  in  view-  of  designing-  and  inventing  new  ap- 
paratus for  the  Stanley  Company.  From  this  plant  emanated  much  of 
the  best  inceptive  work  in  alternating-  generators  and  the  first  suc- 
cessful experiments  in  long  distance  transmission.  As  a  result  of  this 
collaborative  experimenting  and  invention  in  its  behalf  the  Stanley  Com- 
pany under  Mr.  Chesney's  chief  electrical  engineership  developed  with 
amazing  rapidity,  becoming  so  important  a  factor  in  the  manufacturing' 
world  as  to  challenge  the  attention  of  the  great  general  electric  com- 
pany, with  which  a  combination  was  effected  in  1903,  when  the  capital 
stock  of  the  Stanley  Company  was  $4,000,000.  Mr.  Chesney  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  which  he  is  the  incumbent  in  1904.  The  following  quo- 
tation from  Vol.  XXXVTIT,  No.  22,  of  the  "Electrical  World  and 
Engineer  "  serves  to  indicate  Mr.  Chesney's  standing  among  electrical 
engineers  as  well  as  to  furnish  interesting  detail  relative  to  his  con- 
nection with  the  Stanley  Company  and  his  individual  achievements 
in  the  field  of  applied  electricity : 

"  .A.fter  the  incorporation  of  the  Stanley  Manufacturing  Company, 
it  soon  became  apparent  to  those  associated  with  Mr.  Chesney  that  his 
broad  general  knowledge  and  clear  conservative  judgment  indicated  him 
as  the  man  to  guide  the  electric  departments  of  the  manufacturing  es- 
tablishment, and  the  future  demonstrated  that  this  estimation  was  not  at 
fault.     With  his  associates  and  staff  of  assistants.  Mr.  Chesney  early  per- 


202  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

feclied  the  induction  type  of  alternator  tO'  a  point  far  beyond  anything 
before  reached  in  this  country  and  not  surpassed  in  the  world.  To'  him 
is  due  the  credit  of  having-  laid  out  the  first  polyphase  transmission 
plant  to  be  put  into^  successful  operation  in  America.  The  plant  is 
at  the  present  day  supplying  light  and  poAver  for  use  in  the  towns  of 
Housatonic  and  Great  Barrington,  Massachusetts.  When  Mr.  Ches- 
ney  and  those  around  him  contended  that  alternating-current  generators 
could  be  run  in  parallel  under  conditions  prevailing  in  practical  opera- 
tion they  were  opposed  by  all  American  engineers  of  standing,  yet  the 
fight  proved  a  winning  one.  When  others  were  preparing  tO'  prove  that 
the  winding  of  10,000  to  12,000  volt  generators  was  an  impracticability 
Mr.  Chesnev  designed  alternating-current  generators  for  such  voltages 
vv'ith  great  success.  It  might  be  added  that  for  even  lower  voltages 
Mr.  Chesney  was  the  pioneer  as  the  first  6,000-volt  generators  built  and 
successfully  operated  in  America  are  of  his  design,  and  are  still  furnish- 
ing alternating-current  power  to  Quebec. 

"  When  it  became  apparent  that  transformers  of  large  capacities 
would  be  a  valuable  addition  to  the  electrical  plants  of  the  time,  not- 
withstanding predictions  to  the  contrary  by  those  presumably  in  a 
position  to  know,  he  with  his  associates  again  realized  their  convictions 
in  a  most  satisfactory  manner,  and  to  him  is  due  the  design  of  the  first 
commercial  loo-lig'ht  transformer  ever  used  in  this  country,  which  was 
made  by  the  Stanley  Electric  }>Ianufacturing  Company  in  1891. 

*'  A  long  list  might  be  given  of  electrical  developments  in  which  Mr. 
Chesney  has  been  a  pioneer.  Among  other  work  switch-board  instru- 
ments, high-tension  arc-breaking  devices,  frequency  indicators,  indicat- 
ing wattmeters,  lightning  protection  for  high-  and  low-tension  circuits, 
and  many  other  appliances  have  all  had  a  share  of  attention  and  always 
with  satisfactory  results.  One  of  the  most  striking  and  practical  ex- 
hibits at  the  Pan-American  Exposition  was  the  '  S-K-C '  phase  and 
frequency-changer,  which  transformed  the  three-phase,  25-cycle  Niagara 
current  to  two-phase,  50-cycle  currents  for  lighting  and  power  pur- 
poses in  the  Electricity  Building.  This  is  one  of  Mr.  Chesney's  more 
recent  inventions. 

"  Mr.  Chesney  is  seldom  idle,  and  an  idea  of  value  has  little  chance 
of  escaping  him,  as  is  shown  in  some  degree  by  the  numerous  patents 
is^upd  to  him,  and  by  the  many  unique  and  valuable  details  to  be  found 
in  the  '  S-K-C  '  apparatus.  His  friends  like  to  think  of  him  not  only 
as  the  man  of  resource  and  energy,  always  ready  to  seize  the  best  that 
can  be  found  and  incorporate  it  into  his  work,  but  they  also  remember 
his  enthusiasm  for  athletic  sports  and  the  time  Avhen  he  was  one  of  the 
most  clear-minded  college  baseball  catchers  and  coaches  in  the  country. 
His  control  over  his  fellow-students  was  remarkable  at  all  times  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  203 

he  had  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  their  strong-  points.  When  it  was  a 
question  of  organizing  a  champion  baseball  team,  he  saw  quickly  how 
to  use  the  available  material  at  hand.  This  characteristic  of  prompt 
thought  and  the  ability  to  make  the  most  of  men  and  things  about 
him  has  remained  with  him  through  all  of  his  engineering  and  research 
work,  and  has  been  one  of  the  potent  factors  in  placing  that  work  in  the 
rank  of  highest  order.  He  has,  in  short,  always  been  a  man  of  action 
rather  than  of  w^ords,  but  when  the  latter  prove  necessary  they  are  for- 
cible and  cogent." 

Mr.  Chesney  is  president  of  Vermont  Power  and  Maufacturing 
Company,  of  St.  Albans,  Vermont;  and  a  member  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers  and  the  Society  of  Arts  and  Man- 
ufacturers of  England.  He  was  married  October  28,  189 1,  to  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  the  late  J.  E.  Cutler,  for  a  number  of  years  a  prom- 
inent contractor  of  East  Orange,  New  Jersey,  whose  wife  was  of  the 
historic  New  Jersey  Ford  and  Kitchell  families.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ches- 
ney have  four  children  :  Malcolm  L.,  Elizabeth,  Margaret  and  Kath- 
erine.  They  reside  on  Dawes  avenue,  Pittsfield,  and  attend  the  First 
Conereeational  church. 


ALLEN  HENRY  BAGG. 

Allen  Henry  Bagg,  mayor  of  Pittsfield,  1905  and  1906,  is  a  native  of 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  born  April  4,  1867,  son  of  Edwin  and 
Catharine  (Hull)  Bagg.  He  received  a  public  school  education,  and 
found  his  first  employment  wher,  sixteen  years  of  age  with  the  Peirson 
Hardware  Company,  Pittsfield,  remaining  therewith  twenty  years,  being 
engaged  in  a  managerial  capacity  at  the  time  of  his  resignation.  During 
the  period  of  the  above  business  Mr.  Bagg  made  very  successful  invest- 
ments in  local  realty,  much  of  which  was  imprcived  by  him. 

His  connection  with  Re])ublican  parly  politics  has  l)een  close  and 
active.      Two  vears'   efl^icient   service  in  the  Pittsfield   citv  council   was 


204  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

followed  ill  1903  by  his  inauguration  of  a  movement  for  the  nomination 
of  business  men  of  unquestioned  character  and  standing  for  the  various 
city  offices.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  gentlemen 
whose  candidacies  ^^•ere  sought,  and  a  large  majority  of  these  consented 
and  were  subsequently  nominated  and  elected.  Mr.  Bagg  was  elected 
to  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Pittsfield,  and  served  as  president  of  that 
body  in  190 j.  He  was  elected  to  the  mayoralty  for  1905,  and  re-elected 
for  the  ensnii\§'  year. 

He  has  taken  an  interest  in  ^^:iung  Men's  Christian  Association 
work,  assisting  in  the  establishment  of  the  Pittsfield  branch,  and  serving 
for  thirteen  vears  as  director  and  recording  secretary.  He  is  of  the 
directorate  of  Pittsfield  Cemetery  Company,  and  had  charge  of  the  build- 
ing of  the  cliapel  given  by  the  late  ]\Irs.  Edwin  Clapp.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternitv  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows;  Berk- 
shire Chapter.  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  the  First  Congre- 
gational church,  Pittsfield. 

He  manied,  Fe1>ruary  24,  iqO'3,  Mary  Campbell  Clapp,  daughter  of 
the  late  Edwin  Clapp. 

THE  RUSSELL  FAMILY. 
The  Russell s  of  Pittsfield  are  lineally  descended  from  William  Rus- 
sell, who  came  from  England  between  1636  and  1645.  He  brought  with 
him  his  wife  Martha,  and  son  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  1636.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  church  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  in 
1645,  and  their  children  were  baptized  there,  although  the  second,  who 
died  in  1642,  may  have  been  born  in  England.  He  died  in  Cambridge, 
February  14,  1662.  and  his  widow  married,  March  24,  1665,  Humphrey 
Bradshaw,  and  (third)  May  24.  1683.  Thomas  Hall.  She  died  in 
1694.     William  Russell  had  ten  children.     The  fourth  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  205 

John  Russell,  born  in  Cambridge,  September  ii,  1645,  <^lied  March 
6,  1723.  He  married  Elizabeth  Fiske,  born  probably  1654,  daughter 
of  David  Fiske,  the  son  of  David  Fiske,  who  was  at  Watertown  in 
1638. 

Mr.  Russell  was  at  Cambridge  Farms,  Massachusetts,  at  the  or- 
ganization of  the  parish  in  1693.  and  the  largest  subscriber  for  the 
meeting  house.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the  church  in  1696. 
His  wife  was  soon  after  a  member  of  the  chin-c'h  in  Lexington.  He  was. 
a  wealthy  and  leading  citizen,  and  held  many  offices  in  town  and  parish. 
(There  was  another  John  Russell  who  removed  to  Wethersfield.)  Of 
his  children  the  eldest  was 

John  Russell,  born  in  Lexington,  Massachusetts.  November  9,  1671. 

He    married    Rebecca  ■ .     Thev  were  admitted  to  the 

church  in  Lexington,  April  10,  1715.  He  was  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  Brimfield.  Massachusetts,  which  was  laid  out  in  170T,  but  not  settled 
for  over  twenty  years.  Lt  1731  Mr.  Russell  was  moderator  of  the  town 
meeting,  and  in  1732  of  the  proprietors'  meeting.  All  of  his  children 
settled  in  Brimfield.     He  had  six  children.     Tlie  fourth  was 

John  Russell,  born  in  Brimfield,  March  22.  1749,  died  in  Chester- 
field, November  12,  1828.  He  married  at  Chesterfield.  December  5, 
1786,  Sarah  Rice,  born  in  Brookfield,  November  17,  1762.  died  in 
Pittsfield,  Jime  t8.  1847,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Dinah  Rice.  He  lived 
in  Chesterfield.     He  was  blind  from  the  age  of  sixteen. 

Solomon  Lincoln  Russell,  born  in  Chesterfield.  Februarv  4,  1791, 
died  in  Pittsfield.  Ranunry  8,  1882.  FTe  married.  May  31,  1821,  Wealthy 
Nash,  born  Februarv  8,  1797,  died  in  Pittsfield.  May  2T,  1858,  daughter 
of  Fh'iah  and  Paulina  (AVarner)  Nash,  of  Conway.  Massachusetts.  He 
had  cicht  children  : 


206  .  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

1.  Solomon  Nash,  born  in  Conway,  August  i,  1822,  married 
Caroline  A.  Wheeler. 

2.  Charles  Lewis,  born  January  14,  1824,  died  February  13,  1872, 
unmarried. 

3.  Joseph,  born  May  17,  1826,  married  Sarah  Rowley.  He  was 
a  farmer  in  Hinsdale,  Massachusetts. 

4.  Mary,  born  October  7,  1828,  died  September  7,  1862,  unmar- 
ried. 

5.  Sarah,  born  October  7,  1828,  married  George  L.  Weed.  Mr. 
Weed  was  superintendent  of  deaf  and  dumb  asylums  in  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  Wisconsin,  later  removing  to  Philadelphia,  where  they  now  reside. 

6.  Zeno,  born  May  19,  1834,  married  Charlotte  M.  Rice,  of  Con- 
way, whoi  survives  him,  with  two  children,  Jane  Austin  and  Henry 
Ruland.  Mr.  Russell  died  in  18S1,  and  had  been  in  the  woolen  business 
with  the  firm  of  S.  N.  and  C.  Russell. 

7.  Hezekiah  Stone,  born  December  7,  1835,  married  Martha  A. 
Rowley.  He  has  been  a  manufacturer  since  1863.  ^^  was  a  select- 
man of  the  town  in  1887  and  1888,  and  was  mayor  of  the  city  in  1900. 
He  has  had  nine  children,  of  whom  three  are  married, 

8.  Franklin  West,  born  August  22,  1841,  is  manager  of  the 
woolen  business  of  the  S.  N.  and  C.  R.  Russell  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. 

SOLOMON  NASH  RUSSELL. 
The  Russell  records  heretofore  given  serve  to  show  conclusively 
that  from  early  colonial  days  the  immediate  descendants  of  William  Rus- 
sell were  useful  and  honorable  members  of  society  in  Eastern  Massa- 
chusetts. It  is  equally  true  that  his  more  remote  posterity  have  been 
and  are  important  factors  in  the  development  of  Western  Massachusetts. 


5  cAr  l^^i>u<5yi^.c-t>0 


r 


.4. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  20T 

The  first  of  these  to  locate  in  Berkshire  county  was  Solomon  Lincoln 
Russell,  third  of  the  eleven  children  of  John  and  Sarah  (Rice)  Russell 
above  referred  to.  Solomon  L.  Russell  was  born  in  Chesterfield,  Hamp- 
shire county,  Massachusetts,  February  4,  1791,  living  to  attain  the 
great  age  of  ninety-one  years,  his  death  occurring  at  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  8,  1882. 

He  married,  May  31,  1821,  Wealthy  Nash,  born  February  8,  1797, 
died  in  Pittsfield,  May  21,  1858,  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Paulina  (War- 
ner)  Nash,  of  Conway,  Massachusetts. 

Solomon  L.  Russell  came  to  Pittsfield  in  1827  with  his  brother 
Zeno',  and  purchased  and  for  nine  years  conducted  the  Berkshire  Hotel 
located  on  the  corner  now  occupied  by  the  Berkshire  Life  Lisurance 
Company's  block  at  the  northwest  corner  of  North  and  West  streets. 
Upon  the  sale  of  this  property  in  1835,  Mr.  Russell  settled  on  a  farm 
about  three-ciuarters  of  a  mile  north,  now  owned  and  occupied  in 
part  by  the  widow  of  his  son  Solomon  N.  Russell.  It  was  in  the  cause 
of  education  that  Solomon  L.  Russell  took  especial  interest  and  demon- 
strated an  especial  capacity  for  usefulness.  He  had  been  for  a  time 
at  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  a  town  which  was  much  in  advance 
of  her  sister  towns  of  the  state  in  the  educational  facilities  afforded  her 
citizens.  Mr.  Russell  bent  his  best  efforts  toward  the  establishment  of 
a  puljlic  school  system  in  Pittsfield.  As  prudential  committeeman  he 
diverted  the  school  tax  fund  from  its  customary  pro  rata  division 
among  families  having  children  of  school  ag'e,  to  the  exchequers  of  two 
pri\'ate  schools  which  thereafter  received  and  educated  these  children  free 
of  cost.  Mr.  Russell  was  therefore  the  practical  father  of  the  present 
public  school  system  of  Pittsfield,  and  the  appn)])riateness  of  naming 
one  of  its  imposing  structures,  the  Peck's  road  schoolhouse,  after  him 
is  obvious.     He  was  largely  instrumental   in  the  establishment,   laying 


208  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

out  and  beautifying  of  the  Pittsfield  cemetery,  serving  for  a  number  of 
years  as  one  of  its  directors  and  keeping  an  especially  close  personal 
supervision  of  the  initial  work  done  thereupon. 

Solomon  Nash  Russell,  eldest  of  the  children  of  Solomon  L.  and 
Wealthy  (Nash)  Russell,  was  born  in  Conway,  August  i,  1822,  died 
February  16,  1899.  He  married,  September  i,  1864,  Caroline  A. 
Wheeler,  born  December  8,  183 1,  daughter  of  Horatio^  N.  and  Hannah 
B.  Wheeler,  of  Old  Chatham,  New  York. 

The  inception  of  Mr.  Russell's  career  as  a  manufacturer  was  in 
1843  when  he  purchased  a  small  shop  on  Onota  creek  and  engaged  in 
the  making  of  cotton-batting.  Two  years  later,  in  association  with  his 
brother  Charles,  the  shop  and  manufacturing  facilities  were  enlarged 
and  the  manufacture  of  wadding  added.  In  1857  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  in  the  stone  mill  on  Waconah  street  was  begun,  and  in 
1863  the  present  factory  of  the  S.  N.  &  C.  Russell  Manufacturing 
Company  Avas  erected.  The  product  of  this  plant  obtained  early  recog- 
nition as  a  superior  article,  attracting  the  favorable  notice  oi  Alexander 
T.  Stewart,  the  then  merchant  prince  of  America,  who  from  1861  to 
1865  absorbed  its  entire  output,  directly,  and  for  some  years  following 
the  close  of"  the  war  controlled  it  on  a  commission  basis.  No  more 
favorable  commentary  on  the  super-excellence  of  this  company's  early 
manufactures  than  the  preceding  statement  could  be  given,  and  it  is 
in  strictest  accordance  with  the  facts  that  the  company  has  kept  fully 
abreast  of  the  times  and  today  enjoys  the  same  splendid  reputation 
which  it  so  speedily  acquired.  During  the  period  oi  A.  T.  Stewart's 
commission  handling  of  the  Russell  plant's  output,  Mr.  Frank  \\'.  Rus- 
sell, the  present  president  of  the  company,  looked  after  its  interests  while 
in  the  employ  of  Mr.  A.  T.  Stewart. 

The  latter,  youngest  of  the  children  of  Solomon  L.   Russell,  was 


i7/W^^    7f  v\aU4^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  209 

associated  from  boyhood  with  the  manufacturing  interest  estabhshed 
by  his  brothers  and  succeeded  to^  their  management  upon-tlie  decease  of 
Solomon  Nash  Russell. 

The  late  Solomon  N.  Russell  was  a  valued  and  valuable  citizen, 
contributing  in  many  ways  toi  the  healthy  growth  and  development  of 
this  locality.  He,  with  Mr.  E.  D.  G.  Jones,  l)uilt  the  Central  Block  on 
North  street,  Pittsfield.  at  the  time  considered  a  verv  important  addi- 
tion to  the  business  blocks  of  the  county  seat.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Cemetery  corporation,  the  Berkshire  ]\Iutual  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
a  director  in  the  Third  National  Bank,  and  an  attendant  of  and  liberal 
contributor  to  the  First  Congregational  church.  He  served  efficiently 
as  selectman  and  representative  and  was  prominent  in  all  local  affairs. 
He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  House  of  Mercy  and  his  memory  has 
been  perpetuated  in  connection  therewith  by  his  gift  of  the  property 
known  as  the  "  Russell  Elms,"'  upon  which  the  hospital  stands.  Mrs.  Rus- 
sell is  living  in  the  old  mansion  on  North  street,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
managers  of  the  House  of  Mercy  since  the  establishment  of  that  benef- 
icent institution  and  has  been  one  of  its  liberal  benefactors. 

FRANKLIN  WEST  RUSSELL. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  article  has  abundantly 
demonstrated  his  capacity  as  presiding  officer  of  the  Russell  Manufac- 
turing" Company,  his  substantial  equipment  therefor  being  set  forth  in 
the  story  of  the  career  of  his  brother,  Solomon  N.  Russell,  with  wlmm 
he  was  long  associated  and  succeeded  oflicially.  Flis  serxices  in  a  pub- 
lic way  have  been  limited  to  his  representation  of  \\'ard  i  in  the  lioard 
of  aldermen  of  Pittsfield. 


210  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

HEZEKIAH  STONE  RUSSELL. 

The  mental  and  physical  vig"r:)r,  the  spirit  of  prog'ressiveness,  and 
the  industry  and  integrity  which  were  the  characteristics  of  so  many  of 
the  Russells  heretofore  dwelt  upon,  find  still  another  exponent  in  the 
g"entleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs  and  who  was  the  sev- 
enth of  the  children  of  the  late  Solomon  L.  and  Wealthy  (Nash)  Rus- 
sell. 

Hezekiah  Stone  Russell  w-as  born  in  Pittsfield,  December  7,  1835. 
His  initial  schooling-  was  obtained  at  Pittsfield  and  he  was  one  of  the 
scholars  in  attendance  on  the  day  of  the  opening*  of  its  first  hig^h  school 
in  1852.  He  subsequently  entered  Mt.  Pleasant  Academy,  Amherst. 
Tn  1853  he  went  west,  where  he  was  for  four  years  variously  employed 
in  connection  with  railroad  and  lumbering  interests.  In  1857  he  went 
to  Melbourne,  Australia,  and  undertook  mining,  which  he  abandoned 
soon  to  engage  in  telegraph  contract  w-ork. 

Returning  to  America  in  i860  he  w-as  for  one  year  engaged  in  a 
clerical  capacity  with  the  Pomeroy  Oil  Factory's  ofiice  in  Toronto,  Can- 
t'lda.  In  1862  he  resumed  residence  in  Pittsfield  where  he  was  em- 
])loyed  for  several  years  in  his  brothers'  woolen , mills.  In  1865  he 
])urcliased  an  interest  in  the  old  McKay  &  Hoadley  Machine  Shop,  of 
which  he  became  sole  owner  in  1872.  In  1874  he  sold  the  machine 
shop  to  E.  D.  Jones,  retaining  the  boiler-making  plant  which  he  con- 
tinued to  operate  successfully  up  tO'  1902,  when  he  disposed  of  it  to 
the  E.  D.  Jones  Company  and  retired  from  business.  Mr.  Russell  has 
been  a  Re]niblic;in  of  the  stalwart  type  since  the  formation  of  that 
])'irt}'  and  Ins  been  active  in  advancing  its  interests  in  town,  county  and 
state.  Although  not  in  any  sense  an  active  politician  his  services  have 
been  sought   and   efficiently  and    freely  given    in   the   discharge  of  the 


BERKSHIRE  CO  UNTY  2 1 1 

duties  of  iinmerous  offices.  He  was  selectman  in  1887-88;  councilman 
from  the  fourth  ward  in  1897-98;  and  was  elected  to  the  mayoralty  in 
1900.  and  re-elected  to  that  office  the  following  year.  It  was  during 
Mr.  Russell's  incumhency  of  the  office  of  mayor  of  Pittsfield  that  the 
Berkshire  Cx>mpany  added  its  lines  to  the  trolley  systems  of  the  yicinity, 
and  material  extensions  to  the  Pittsfield  Company's  lines  were  made. 
During  this  period  also  the  initial  steps  Ayere  taken  looking  toward  the 
increase  of  storage  capacity  for  Pittsfield's  water  supply.  Mr.  Russell 
was  one  of  the  original  members  of  Pittsfield  Co-Operatiye  Bank,  and 
has  been  one  of  the  board  of  directors  and  security  committee  since  the 
organization  of  that  institution.  He  is  a  member  of  Crescent  Lodge, 
of  Pittsfield,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Berkshire  Chapter,  R.  A.  M..  Berkshire 
Council,  R.  and-S.  M.,  and  Berkshire  Commandery,  K.  T.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Crescent  Podge,  Berksliire  Council,  Berkshire  Com- 
mandery and  Lodge  of  Perfection,  and  presiding  officer  in  all  saye  the 
last  mentioned. 

He  was  married  July  4,  1863,  to  Martha,  daughter  of  Julius  and 
Anna  Rowley.  Of  nine  children  born  of  this  union  a  son.  Frank  A., 
liyed  to  attain  his  twentieth  year,  four  died  in  childhood,  and  four 
suryiye.  The  latter  are:  Kate,  the  wife  of  L.  A.  Merchant  (see  sketch 
herein)  ;  Helen,  wife  of  Frank  A.  Bradley,  whose  children  are  Alton  anrl 
Grace;  Anna,  wife  of  Edgar  R.  Whiting";  and  ALartha,  wife  of  George 
L.  Waterman,  l)y  whom  she  has  a  soil,  Laurence. 


HENRY  R.  RUSSELL. 

Henry  R.  Russell,  son  of  late  Zeno  Russell,  was  born  Septemljer 
23,  T874;  attended  Pittsfield  high  school  and  Amherst  College,  and 
entered  the  office  employ  of  the  S.  N.  and  C.   Russell  Manufacturing 


212  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Company  in  1893.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  company  since  1899. 
He  is  a  member  and  treasurer  of  the  First  Congregational  church,  of 
the  CountiT  Park  Chib  and  Pittsfield  Boat  Ckili. 


OLIVER  LESLIE  BARTLETT. 

Oliver  Leslie  Bartlett  was  born  in  Rockland,  Maine,  October  19, 
1859,  son  of  the  late  Edward  H.  and  Mary  E.  (Lawson)  Bartlett,  the 
former  a  native  of  Maine,  the  latter  of  England. 

Their  son  Oliver  L.  received  his  initial  schooling  and  academic  in- 
struction in  his  native  city  and  then  entered  Bates  College  (Lewiston, 
Maine),  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  '83, 
practically  earning  his  way  through  college  by  teaching.  His  study  of 
medicine  was  taken  up  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  E.  L.  Esterbrook, 
of  Rockland,  and  continued  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
the  medical  department  of  Columbia  University,  from  which  he  received 
his  diploma  in  1887.  Immediately  thereafter  he  entered  upon  the  gen- 
eral practice  of  his  profession  in  Rockland,  remaining  there  for  a  period 
of  seven  years,  during  three  years  of  which  he  was  the  city  physician. 
The  multiplicity  of  cases  of  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  that 
were  brought  to  his  notice  as  incumbent  of  the  office  named  aroused  Dr. 
Bartlett's  especial  interest  and  necessitated  especial  investigation  and 
study  along-  those  lines,  leading  him  to  determine  to  specialize  thereafter 
his  practice.  With  this  end  in  view  he  sold  his  Rockland  practice  and 
took  courses  at  the  Chicago  Polyclinic,  the  New  York  Ophthalmic  and 
Aural  Institute  and  New  York  Polyclinic.  Thus  well  equipped  he 
opened  ofhces  at  Brockton,  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  for  nine 
years.  In  1903  he  came  to  Pittsfield  to  purchase  the  business  of  Drs.  H. 
A.  arid  W.  E.   Noyes,  with  offices  in  Central  block.     Dr.  Bartlett  is  a 


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t.J^-<J 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  213 

member  of  the  Berkshire  Medical  Society,  Massachusetts  Medical  Soci- 
ety and  American  Medical  Association,  and  is  one  of  the  stafif  of  physi- 
cians of  the  House  of  Mercy,  Pittsfield.  He  is  a  member  of  Crescent 
Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  deacons  of  the 
Baptist  church,  Pittsfield.  He  has  always  had  an  especial  interest  in 
works  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  having  had  official  connection  therewith  at 
Brockton  and  upon  the  transfer  of  his  membership  to  Pittsfield  was 
elected  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  directorate  of  the  local  branch.  Dr.  Bart- 
lett  married  in  1889,  Evie  Tolman,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Aaron  G. 
Hemingway,  of  Rockland,  Maine.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bartlett  reside  at  100 
Wendell  avenue. 

WILLIAM  DONALD  MacINNES. 

There  is  scarcely  a  flourishing  center  of  population  in  the  United 
States  that  does  not  number  among  its  most  enterprising  merchants 
and  aggressive  and  progressive  manufacturers  men  of  Scotch  nativity. 
The  dry  goods  trade  especially  has  had  many  strong  representatives 
from  the  land  of  the  thistle,  notably  that  prince  of  merchants,  the  late 
Alexander  T.  Stewart,  who  is  generally  conceded  to  have  revolutionized 
business  methods,  amazing  his  contemporaries  and  showing  the  w'ay  for 
the  broad  twentieth  century  lines  of  gigantic  operations  in  both  the 
wholesale  and  retail  trade.  Of  his  followers  and  fellow-counti"ymen 
Pittsfield  is  the  fortunate  possessor  of  several  gentlemen  who  have  con- 
trilDuted  in  no  small  measure  to  the  business  development  of  the  county 
seat  and  to  the  fair  fame  of  its  merchants  for  business  integrity. 

Among  these  may  appropriately  be  numbered  William  Donald  Mac- 
Innes,  president  of  The  Kennedy-Maclnnes  Company,  the  leading  di"y 
goods  house  of  the  Berkshire  Hill  country.  He  was  born  in  Comrie, 
Perthshire,  Scotland,  October  5,  1853;  received  a  common  school  edu- 


214  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

cation  in  his  native  place  and  his  inceptive  business  training  in  the 
estabHshment  of  Frazer,  ]^IcLaren  &  Co.,  Glasgow,  Scotland,  then  and 
still  one  of  the  great  dry  gx)ods  houses  of  Great  Britain.  In  1871  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  stimulated  to  the  step  through  the  letters  of 
an  older  brother  John  C.  Alaclnnes  who  had  sailed  for  America  two 
years  previously  and  who  had  discovered  as  he  believed  the  promised 
land  for  ambitious  young  business  men,  a  correct  conviction  as  was  dem- 
onstrated in  his  own  eminentlv  successful  business  career;  he.  having 
been  the  founder  and  being  now  president  and  leading  stockholder  of 
the  great  Worcester  (Massachusetts)  dry  goods  house,  The  John  C. 
Maclnnes  Company. 

William  D.  Maclnnes  found  his  earliest  employment  with  Shepard, 
Norwell  &  Co.,  dry  goods  merchants  of  Boston.  This  term  of  service 
extended  over  a  period  of  three  years,  during  the  major  portion  of 
which  time  he  was  in  charge  of  the  black  goods  department.  In  i<S74, 
Mr.  Maclnnes  formed  the  acquaintance  at  Boston  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Kennedy,  also  a  Scotchman,  and  a  few  minutes  sufficed  to  inform  each 
of  the  other's  intention  of  entering  into  the  dry  goods  business.  It 
having  come  under  their  mutual  notice  that  the  Smith  &  Wallace  dry 
goods  business  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  was  for  sale,  and  both  being 
favorably  impressed  with  the  opportunity  for  investment  and  entrance 
into  business  thus  offered,  the  two  gentlemen  came  to  an  almost  imme- 
diate understanding,  journeyed  to  Pittsfield  and  purchased  the  busi- 
ness in  question  which  was  thereafter  conducted  under  the  firm  name 
of  Kennedy  &  Maclnnes  up  to  the  incorporation  of  The  Kennedy-Mac- 
Innes  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Maclnnes  is  president  and  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy, treasurer.  From  a  comparatively  small  trade  the  business  has 
grown  to-  extensive  proportions,  being  numbered  among  the  conspicu- 
ous business  successes  of  western  Massachusetts.     The  Root  block,  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  215 

original  structure  occupied  by  the  firm,  proving  inadequate  for  its 
growing  trade  a  removal  to  its  present  commodious  quarters  in  the 
Central  block.   North  street,  was  effected  in   1882. 

Mr.  Maclnnes'  ])ublic  service  has  been  as  a  member  of  Pittsfield's 
board  of  aldermen  representing  ward  4,  the  only  Democrat  ever  elected 
therefrom.  He  served  efficiently  as  chairman  of  the  highway  commit- 
tee. He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Russell  on  the  board  of  trustees 
of  Northampton  Lunatic  Hospital,  an  office  which  he  has  since  contin- 
uously held,  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Pittsfield  Boys'  Club  in 
which  institution  he  takes  an  especial  interest.  His  fraternal  connec- 
tion is  with  Mystic  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Berkshire  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.; 
and  Berkshire  Commandery,  K.  T.,  of  which  he  is  past  eminent  com- 
mander. He  is  a  member  and  past  thrice  potent  grand  master  of  the 
Lodge  of  Perfection,  fourteenth  degree;  of  Massachusetts  Consistory 
(Boston)  thirty-second  degree  and  Melha  Temple  (Springfield)  Nobles 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine. 

Mr.  MacLmes  married,  October  4,  1893,  Annie,  daughter  of  the 
late  George  P.  Adriance,  a  former  member  and  son  x)f  the  founder  of 
the  firm  of  Adriance,  Piatt  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  mowers  and  reap- 
ers, Poughkeepsie.  New  York.  ]Mr.  and  Airs.  Maclnnes  have  two  sons, 
Donald  and  John.  The  family  resides  on  South  street  and  attends  the 
First  Congregational  church. 


CHARLES  C.  MARTIN. 

Charles  Cyril  jMariin,  deceased,  father  of  Mrs.  (ieorge  Blatchfurd. 
Pittsfield,  v.as  in  his  day  one  of  the  most  accoujjilisiied  of  American 
civil  engineers,  and  in  all  parts  of  the  country  great  works  stand  as 
e\i(lence  of  his  mastcrlv  skill. 


216  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

He  was  born  August  30.  183 t,  in  S]M'ingfielcl,  Bradford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  son  of  Jan^es  and  I-^'dia  (  Bullock)  ^Martin.,  gramlson  of 
James  jMartin  and  Ju.dith  Read,  anfl  a  descendant  of  John  Martin,  \\\\o 
came  from  England  about  1666  and  settled  in  Swansea,  Massachusetts. 
His  ancestral  line  has  been  traced  to  Martin  de  Tours,  who  came  into 
England  ^^  ith  .William  the  Ccmcjueror. 

His  b)0>'hoofl  was  passed  upon  a  farm  in  a  s])arseiy  ]iopulated  re- 
gion, and  the  life  developed  in  him  a  vigorous  physical  manhood.  School 
advantages  were  meagre,  and  he  was  in  large  degree  self-elucated,  but 
so  well  did  lie  apply  himself  to  his  studies  that  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
he  taught  a  district  school  and  was  an  acknowledged  authority  in  land 
surveying.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  with  about  two  hundred  dollars 
as  Ins  enth"e  possessions,  he  became  a  student  of  engineering  in  the 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute  at  Troy,  New  York,  from  which  he 
graduated  with  high  honor  in  1856.  He  had  paid  his  way  by  teaching 
in  a  part;chird  school,  and  by  gi\'ing  private  instruction  to  his  fellows, 
and  proved  so  capable  a  teacher  that  after  his  graduation  he  remained 
for  one  vear  as  a  member  of  the  regular  instructional  corps.  In  after 
years  he  was  repeatedly  ottered  a  professorship  in  the  institution,  and 
as  often  declined,  in  1891  he  was  unanimously  elected  director  of  the 
Institute,  the  duties  being  those  pertaining  to  the  president  of  other  like 
schools.  Imt  this  high  compliment  he  also  declined. 

Imr.iediatelv  after  leaving  I'he  Institute,  ]\Ir.  Martin  became  rod- 
man  on  the  Ji'rooklyn  (  Xew  York)  Water  Works,  at  a  wage  of  $1.50 
a  dav.  Pie  remained  with  the  company  for  two  years,  advancing  from 
place  to  place,  until  he  was  appointed  assistant  engineer  under  James  P. 
Kirkwood,  and  was  given  charge  of  the  construction  of  three  of  the 
great  reservcjirs  and  eight  miles  of  the  conduit.  After  the  completion 
of  the   work,   he   entered   the  employ  of  the   Trenton   Locomotive  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  21T 

Machine  Manufacturing'  C(mpan}'.  his  ])rincipal  ohject  heing  to  acquire 
famiharity  with  iron  work  and  Ijridge  construction.  He  proved  so  apt 
in  ah  pertaining-  to  the  operations  of  the  company  tliat  he  was  called  to 
the  superintendency.  At  the  outhreak  of  the  civil  war,  Air.  Martin 
was  engaged  in  the  construction  of  an  iron  hridge  across  the  Savannah 
(Georgia)  river  for  the  Sawannah  &  Charleston  Railroad.  Railroad 
communication  along  the  seaboard  was  interrupted,  and  he  had  much 
difficulty  in  making-  his  wa}'  north,  leaving-  Savannah  on  the  last  train, 
and  making-  his  journey  by  a  long  detour  by  way  of  Nashville,  Tennessee. 
During  the  greater  part  of  th.e  war  period  he  was  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  arms  for  the  government,  from  the  Springfield  rifle  to  the 
great  ele\'en-inch  Dahlgren  gun,  the  largest  piece  of  ordnance  of  that 
day.  In  18G4  he  was  employed  by  the  government  as  an  expert  to  con- 
duct boiler  experiments  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  in  order  to  test 
the  relative  merits  of  horizontal  and  vertical  tubular  boilers  for  naval 
vessels. 

After  the  w.ar  he  superintended  the  laying  of  the  forty-eight-inch 
Avater  main  to  the  Ridgewood  reservoir,  of  the  Brooklyn  water  system. 
He  was  subsequently  chief  engineer  of  Prospect  Park,  in  that  city,  and 
inaugurated  the  present  satisfactory  road  and  sub-drainage  systems,  and 
he  carried  to  cou-ipletion  the  construction  of  the  great  jxirk  well,  at  that 
time  the  largest  A\ork  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  This  was  accomplished 
at  moderate  cost  and  without  accident  —  a  feat  which  attracted  wide 
attention,  his  predecessor  haA-ing  pronounced  the  accomplishment  well- 
nigh  impossible,  and  in\-olving  "a  nu'nt  of  money  and  a  perpetual 
funeral  procession." 

In  Januarv,  1870,  ]\lr.  Martin  l:!ecame  first  assistant  engineer  on 
the  Brooklyn  Bridge,  under  Colonel  ^^^  A.  Roebling,  and  he  occupied 
that  position  from  the  day  the  first  earth  w^as  removed  until  the  com- 


218  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

pletion  of  the  structure.  At  the  outset  his  practical  knoAvledge  of  the 
pneumatic  process  of  bridg-e  foundations,  drawn  from  his  experience  in 
similar  work  on  a  mucli  smaller  scale  on  the  Savannah  and  Santee 
rivers  found  immediate  application,  and  his  methods  were  followed  in 
sinking  the  caissons  in  both  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  ends.  From 
first  to  last  he  had  full  charge  of  the  execution  of  the  work,  the  employ- 
ment of  workmen,  the  purchase  of  material  and  the  auditing  of  accounts. 
So  masterly  was  his  directionary  power,  and  so  ecjuable  his  temperament, 
that  the  engineer  c(M-ps  was  maintained  intact,  and  not  a  symptom  of 
jealousy  or  ill  feeling-  marred  the  relations  between  its  various  members. 
For  nineteen  years,  and  until  the  office  was  abolished  by  the  con- 
solidation of  the  ne]>artment  of  Bridges,  in  January,  igoz,  he  held  the 
position  of  cliief  engineer  and  superintendent  of  the  New  York  and 
Brooklyn  Bridge.  In  January,  1903,  shortly  before  his  death  (which 
occurred  July  iith  of  the  same  year,  at  Far  Rockaway,  Long  Island), 
he  completed  t]iirt}--three  years  of  service  on  the  great  bridge,  and  more 
than  forty  years  of  professional  work  on  the  public  works  of  Brooklyn. 
His  professional  skih  and  his  accomplished  work  as  an  engineer,  his 
tact  and  ability,  were  all  truly  admiral:)le,  but  more  wonderful  than  all 
his  achievements  was  the  uniform  exercise  and  beneficent  eft'ect  of  his 
personal  influence  upon  all  his  sulwrdinates  and  associates.  His  wise 
counsel,  tender  sympathy  and  generous  treatment  made  of  each  a  friend, 
and  with  surprising  unanimity  they  characterized  him  as  ''  the  best  friend 
I  ever  knev;."  His  integrity  was  unassailable.  Owing-  to  changes  in 
plans  of  construction,  advanced  prices  of  materials  and  labor,  and  the 
great  rise  oi  value  of  real  estate,  the  cost  of  the  bridge  largely  exceeded 
the  estimates  of  Colonel  Roebling.  In  spite  of  these  disadvantages,  and 
with  opportunity  for  speculation,  Mr.  Martin's  skirts  were  never  touched 
with  the  faintest  odor  of  suspicion.     He  made  his  contracts  and  scrutin- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  219 

izecl  the  accounts  as  carefully  as  though  the  work  had  been  at  his  per- 
sonal cost,  and  the  various  reports  of  public  officials  and  investigating 
committees  bore  cheerful  testimony  to  his  strict  impartiality  and  spotless 
honesty. 

]\lr.  Martin  was  a  member  of  tlie  American  Society  of  Civil  Engi- 
neers, and  an  honorary  member  of  the  Brooklyn  Engineers'  Club.  Mis 
personal  life  was  a  model  of  practical  Christianity,  based  upon  a  careful 
and  undeviating  application  of  the  Golden  Rule. 

In  August,  i860,  Mr.  Martin  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Read,  a 
daughter  of  General  Jonathan  Read,  of  Rensselaer  county.  New'  York, 
and  a  direct  descendant  of  Governor  Bradford  and  other  Puritan  sires. 
She  was  a  lady  of  intellectual  ability,  of  varied  and  extensive  reading  in 
English  and  German,  and  of  most  amiable  disposition.  Mr.  Martin's 
home  life  was  of  the  most  serene  and  restful  character,  to  wdiich  he 
brought  the  joyous  spirit  of  a  schoolboy  and  the  heart  of  a  child  when 
surrounded  by  his  children  and  grandchildren.  He  never  hesitated  to 
assert  that  he  owed  much  of  his  success  in  life  and  all  of  his  happiness 
to  his  estimable  wife. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  were  born  four  children:  Mrs.  J.  J. 
Hopper,  of  New-  York;  Mrs.  George  Blatchford,  of  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts ;  Charles  Boynton  Martin,  an  electrical  engineer,  and  Lieutenant 
Kingsley  Leverich  Martin,  resident  engineer  on  the  Williamsburg  Sus- 
pension Bridge. 

JOHN  MARK  SEELEY. 

John  Mark  Seeley,  formerly  a  prominent  business  man  of  Housa- 
tonic,  was  born  in  Great  Barrington,  April  17,  1814,  son  of  John  and 
Mary,  (Hart)    Seeley.     His  father,  w^ho  w-as  a  native  of  Connecticut, 


220  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

settled  in  Great  Barrington  and  engag-ed  in  mercantile  business.  Tic 
also  kept  the  Seeley  tavern. 

John  Mark  Seeley  acquired  a  better  education  than  most  of  the 
youths  of  his  neighborhood,  first  attending  the  common  schools  in  Avhicli 
Squire  Seeley  was  a  teacher,  later  becoming  a  pupil  at  the  Lenox  Acad- 
emy, and  completing  his  studies  at  a  school  in  Stockbridge  said  to  have 
been  presided  over  by  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins.  After  serving  an  appren- 
ticeship in  a  cottonmill  at  Van  Deusenville,  in  1847,  ^^^  engaged  in  busi- 
ness with  Judge  Lyman  Munson  in  that  village.  Later  he  was  inter- 
ested in  the  Maple  Grove  mills  at  South  Adams.  Returning  to  Hous- 
atonic  in  1856  he  was  appointed  treasurer,  agent,  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Monument  mills,  founded  in  1850,  and  under  his  able 
direction  this  enterprise  became  so  prosperous  that  in  1864  a  mill  for 
the  manufacture  of  cotton  warp  was  added  tO'  the  plant.  In  i860  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  Waubeck  IMills  Company,  which  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  bedspreads,  and  in  1866  that  concern  also  erected 
a  1>rick  factory  for  the  production  of  cotton  warps.  He  was  a  director 
of  the  National  Mahaiwe  Bank  of  Great  Barrington,  and  the  growth  and 
business  development  of  Housatonic  was  in  a  great  measure  due  to  his 
superior  business  ability.  In  1864  he  was  elected  a  representative  to 
the  legislature  from  Housatonic.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of 
selectmen  in  Great  Barrington  for  the  years  1863,  1864,  1865  and  1876; 
was  again  a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives  in  1874,  was  a 
state  senator  from  southern  Berkshire  district  for  the  years  1882  and 
1883,  and  held  the  appointment  of  postmaster  at  Housatonic  for  thirty 
years.     In  politics  he  was  a  Republican. 

September  20,  1837,  Mr.  Seeley  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
]Montgt)mery,  who  was  born  in  Salisbuiy,  Connecticut,  December  2, 
1813,  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Rachel  Montgomery.     The  only  child 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  221 

of  this  union  is  Lanra  E..  who  is  now  Mrs.  Fuller,  and  resides  in  Hous- 
atonic.  John  i\Iark  Seeley  died  November  i6,  1888,  and  his  wife  sur- 
vived him  less  than  two  years,  passing  away  October  13.  1890.  He 
was  noted  for  his  genial  disposition,  and  widely  respected  for  his  many 
admirable  qualities,  chief  among  which  was  his  liberality  in  contribut- 
ing toward  the  support  of  all  charitable  olijects  to  which  his  attention 
was  called.  For  many  years  he  was  chorister  in  the  Congregational 
church. 

HON.  ENSIGN  HOSMER  KELLOGG. 

Hon.  Ensign  Hosmer  Kellogg,  counsellor-at-law,  late  a  well-known 
and  much  esteemed  citizen  of  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  long  a 
resident  of  Pittsfield,  prominent  in  business  circles  and  in  public  life, 
was  born  in  July,  18 12,  at  Sheffield,  a  small  country  town  a  few  miles 
farther  south  in  the  Housatonic  Valley,  where  two  or  three  generations 
of  his  family  had  made  their  home. 

His  parents  were  Elisha  and  Jane  fSaxton)  Kellogg,  and  his 
paternal  grandparents  were  Ephraim  and  Ruth  (Hosmer)  Kellogg, 
all  of  Sheffield,  the  grandmother  being  a  descendant  of  Governor  \\'illiam 
Bradford,  of  the  Plymouth  Colonv.  Ephraim  Kellogg  was  a  son  of 
Silas  and  Ruth  (Root)  Kellogg,  and  grandson  of  Stephen  and  Lydia 
(Belding)  Kellogg,  who  lived  in  Westfield.  ]\Lassachusetts.  The  father 
of  Stephen  was  Lieutenant  Joseph  Kellogg",  who  died  at  Fladley,  Alassa- 
chusetts,  about  1707,  ha^•ing  removed  to  that  place  from  Boston  about 
1662.  He  had  pre\^iousl}'  lived  a  few  years  at  Farmington,  Connecticut. 
Ephraim  Kellogg  grandfather  of  E.  H.  Kellogo-.  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Rex'dlulion.  in  service  in  the  expediti<;n  against  Burgoyne  in   1777. 

Elisha  Kellogg  vras  a  farmer  and  spent  his  life  at  the  Sheffield 
homestead.      He   and    his   wife    were    members   of   the    Congregational 


222  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

church.  They  reared  five  children,  namely :  Ensign  Hosmer ;  I^'red- 
erick,  who  went  west;  James,  now  living'  in  Galeshnrg,  Illinois;  Mary, 
Mrs.  Ward,  of  Geneseo,  in  that  state;  and  Ruth  (Mrs.  Arnold),  who 
died  in  OregxDn. 

At  Amherst  College,  in  the  thirties  of  this  century,  Ensign  H.  Kel- 
logg was  a  classmate  of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Alexander  H.  Bullock, 
and  other  men  of  later  prominence.  He  received  his  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts  in  1836.  He  then  read  law  with  L.  Parker  Hall,  of  Sheffield, 
and  after  his  admission  to  the  har  settled  for  practice  in  Pittsfield,  in 
1838  becoming  a  partner  of  Mr.  Hall,  who  had  removed  to  this  city. 
Destiny,  however,  had  not  marked  out  for  him  a  distinctively  legal 
career.  His  interest  in  municipal,  county  and  state  affairs,  his  knowl- 
edge of  governmental  questions,  his  business  ability,  led  to  his  being 
called  to  fill  various  offices  of  public  trust  and  responsibility.  He  served 
a  number  of  terms  as  a  member  of  the  lower  branch  of  the  state  legis- 
lature in  1843,  1844,  1847,  1849,  1850;,  and  other  shortly  succeeding 
years,  also  in  1870  and  1871,  being  speaker  of  the  house  in  1850;  and 
in  1854  he  was  state  senator.  In  1861,  buying  out  the  interest  of 
Socrates  Squire  in  the  Pontoosuc  Woolen  Manufacturing  Company,  the 
oldest  concern  of  the  kind  in  western  Massachusetts,  he  succeeded  him 
as  its  president,  and  continued  in  that  position,  in  the  conduct  of  affairs 
displaying  signal  business  sagacity  for  many  years,  or  until  his  death. 
He  was  also  for  a  long  period  president  of  the  Pittsfield  Life  Insurance 
Company,  and  of  the  Agricultural  Bank  of  this  city.  He  was  one  of 
the  charter  members  and  a  trustee  of  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum.  In 
his  later  years,  while  leading  a  life  of  comparative  leisure,  he  gave  some 
attention  to  real  estate  dealings,  buying  a  large  farm  then  a  mile  from 
town,  and  laying  out  streets,  developing  what  is  now  the  Morningside 
property. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  223 

To  mention  only  a  few  of  his  public  services — it  was  Mr.  Kellogg, 
who,  after  the  burning-  of  the  Berkshire  Medical  College  in  1850.  se- 
cured from  the  legislature  an  appropriation  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  building ;  he  was  one  of  the  committee  to  super- 
intend the  building  of  the  new  Congregational  church,  one  of  the  com- 
mittee on  the  organization  of  the  first  fire  officials,  one  of  the  first  water 
commissioners  of  the  city,  and  one  of  the  most  active  citizens  in  secur- 
ing the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Lenox  to  Pittsfield.  During 
the  war  he  did  much  by  his  patriotic  eloquence  and  practical  efficiency 
to  promote  the  raising  of  troops  in  this  vicinity,  and  after  its  close  he 
was  one  of  the  committee  to  whom  was  entrusted  the  full  charge  of 
erecting  a  soldiers'  monument.  He  was  an  attendant  and  supporter  of 
the  First  Congregational  church.  His  death,  after  a  brief  illness,  oc- 
curred in  February,  1881,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Kellogg  was  married  in  1841  to  Miss  Caroline  L.  Campbell, 
who,  with  one  daughter,  Caroline,  wife  of  William  F.  Cushing,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  survives  him.  They  had  two  other  children,  daughters, 
both  of  whom  died  in  early  womanhood ;  namely,  Elizabeth,  the  first 
wife  of  William  R.  Plunkett ;  and  May,  Mr.  Plunkett's  second  wife,  who 
left  three  children — Elizabeth,   Marion,  and  Thomas  Fitzpatrick. 

Mrs.  Kellogg  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  daughter  of 
David,  Jr.,  and  Nancy  (Pepoon)  Campbell,  and  on  the  paternal  side 
is  of  Scottish  descent.  Her  grandfather.  Captain  David  Campbell,  was 
the  youngest  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Pierce)  Campbell,  of  South- 
wick,  Massachusetts,  where  he  w^as  born  April  30,  1758.  He  married 
Luc)-,  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Lucy  (Loomis)  Laflin,  of  that  town, 
and  about  the  year  1787  removed  to  Pittsfield,  where,  with  the  excep- 
lion  of  a  brief  sojourn  in  Lenox,  he  lix'ed  till  the  close  of  his  eartlilv 
days.     The  date  of  his  death  was  February  27,  1836.     "  He  was  a  man 


224  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  strong  cliaracter,"  we  are  told,  and  "  of  great  enterprise,  especially 
as  a  dealer  in  real  estate."  The  exaggeration  of  tradition  represents 
him  as  having  been  at  one  time  or  another  the  owner  of  almost  every 
desirable  piece  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsfield.  For  many  years  he 
was  owner  and  landlord  of  the  Pittsfield  Coffee  House,  and  in  1818  he 
was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Agricultural  Bank.  His  children 
were  Richard,  David,  Lucy,  Winthrop,  Mary,  Electa,  Elizabeth,  Rob- 
ert, IMatthew,  and  George  Washington.  David,  Jr.,  Robert  and  George 
W.  became  prominent  citizens  of  Pittsfield.  Richard  died  at  Bethle- 
hem, New  York;  Winthrop  removed  to  the  west;  and  Matthew  died  in 
St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

David  Campbell,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Suffield,  Connecticut,  December 
12,  1782,  and  was  about  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Pittsfield.  Li  1805.  forming  a  partnership  with  Ebenezer  Center,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Center  &  Campbell,  he  went  into  mercantile  business. 
The  next  year  he  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  unfortunate  Berk- 
shire Bank.  On  the  incorporation  of  the  Pittsfield  W^oolen  and  Cotton 
Factory  Company,  in  1814,  he  was  one  of  its  five  directors,  holding  thir- 
teen shares  of  stock.  The  factory  went  into  operation  in  18 15,  he  with 
Lemuel  Pomeroy  having  general  control  of  its  affairs.  In  those  years 
Mr.  Campbell  also  engaged  with  much  success  in  the  manufacture  and 
export  of  the  oil  of  peppermint. 

In  1825  the  Pontoosuc  Woolen  INIanufacturing  Company  was 
chartered  and  the  building  of  the  factory  begun.  It  was  completed  and 
went  into  operation  in  1827.  At  the  formal  organization  Henry  Shaw 
was  chosen  president  of  the  company ;  David  Campbell,  Jr.,  general 
agent ;  Thaddeus  Clapp,  superintendent,  and  George  W.  Campbell,  clerk 
and  treasurer.  Here  power  looms  were  first  used  in  Berkshire.  The 
"  History  of  Pittsfield  "  thus  speaks  of  Mr.  David  Campbell.  Jr.,  and 


'^  1^. 


X'^ww^ 


jA„  /)L€sl^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


I'-io 


the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held:  "The  confidence  of  his  associates 
in  his  knowledge,  sound  jndgment  and  integrity  was  nnhounded.  and 
his  contem]>oraries  paint  h.im  as  shrewd,  reticent,  a  cUse  ohserver  of 
men  and  things,  strict  in  his  dealings,  Imt  with  a  warm  heart  and  a 
kindly  manner  for  those  who  dealt  fairly  and  frankly  with  him."'  He 
was  active  in  business  till  his  death,  June  30,  1835.  "^vhen  he  left  an 
interest  enjoyed  by  his  children,  grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren 
at  this  day. 

He  married,  October  4,  i8oc),  Xancy,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  La- 
vina  (Phelps)  Pepoon,  and  was  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
George;  Caroline  Lavina  ( jNIrs.  Kellogg):  David,  third:  Edward,  who 
died  in  infancy :  Edward  Warner ;  and  Robert  Pepoon.  Mrs.  Xancv 
Campbell  died  at  Pittsfield.  Jime  8.  1823. 

TOHX   H.   COFFIXG. 

A  strong  man  and  of  the  type  whose  monuments  are  great  thri\'- 
ing  industries,  was  he  wht)se  name  introduces  these  memoirs.  Like 
many  other  of  the  descendants  of  those  rugged  English  colonists  who 
sought  an  early  opportunity  to  escape  a  t}-rannous  home  rule,  including" 
religious  persecution,  and  who  eventually  revolted  against  a  slaxisb  col- 
onial dependence.  John  H.  Cx)fhng  proved  to  be  a  man  (^f  progress  equal 
to  the  dnt}-  of  the  hour,  a  leader  among  his  fellowmen.  a  man  of  ideas, 
and  with  the  full  courage  of  his  con\'ictions  always. 

Tristram  Coffin,  the  Englishman  who  founded  the -American  fa.m- 
ily  of  Coffin  (here  Coffing — the  terminal  letter  having  been  afhxed  by 
the  father  of  the  immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs),  was  located  in 
the  Island  of  Xantucket  as  its  records  show  as  early  as  1660,  and  his 
rude  habitation  erected  in  1O86  still  stands,  a  most  interesting  memorial 
of  old  colonial  days. 


^•2i)  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

John  H.  Coffing-  was  born  at  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  February  3, 
181 1.  His  father,  Captain  John  C.  Coffing,  had  an  interest  in  the  iron 
manufacturing'  of  that  locahty,  and  conducted  also  a  g^eneral  store.  The 
son  received  for  the  period  an  unusually  liberal  education,  attending 
the  famous  Vermont  military  school  conducted  by  Captain  Alden  Part- 
ridge, then  entering  Westfield  (Massachusetts)  Academy  and  being 
latterly  under  tuition  of  Dr.  Mark  Hopkins.  His  earliest  employment 
■was  in  his  father's  store  at  Salisbury,  and  it  was  there  that  he  had  early 
opportunity  to  familiarize  himself  with  many  of  the  details  of  iron 
manufacturing.  Captain  John  C.  Coffing"  having  sold  out  his  Connec- 
ticut interests  and  located  in  Berkshire  county.  Massachusetts,  was 
largely  instrumental  in  the  erection  in  1829  of  the  iron  furnace  at 
Richmond,  and  in  1833-4,  with  others,  built  the  furnace  for  pig-iron 
manufacturing  at  Van  Deusenville.  With  the  operation  of  this  latter 
plant  the  son  became  in  1836  actively  identified.  In  1844,  upon  the 
incorporation  of  the  Richmond  Iron  Works,  uniting  the  Richmond  and 
Van  Deusen\il]e  iron  manufacturing-  interests,  John  H.  Coffing  became 
the  manager  and  Inisiness  agent  of  the  company,  a  connection  which  con- 
tinued up  to  his  practical  retirement  from  active  business  life  in  1867. 
It  was  largely  through  his  personal  technical  knowledge  of  iron  manu- 
facture that  the  product  of  the  Richmond  Iron  Works  was  soon  of  the 
highest  standard  of  excellence,  and  it  was  in  large  measure  due  to  his 
business  acumen  that  it  speedily  attained  that  reputation,  finding  favor 
with  the  United  States  government  and  being  extensively  used  there- 
h\,  after  the  most  heroic  tests  in  the  manufacture  of  cannon.  Mr.  Cof- 
fing was  essentiallv  a  builder.  Having  estal)lished  with  his  associates 
u]3on  the  firmest  of  foundations  the  iron  making  interests  above  referred 
to,  he  sought  (^.ther  fields  for  investment.  He  became  a  stockholder 
in  the  Monument  Mills,  still  and  for  many  years  the  great  industry  of 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  227 

Honsatonic.  He  interested  himself  actively  also  in  the  promotion  of 
the  local  railroad  interests,  particularly  the  Stockbridge  &  Pittsfield  and 
Berkshire  Railroads,  serving  for  a  number  of  years  as  president  of  the 
latter.  He  was  on  the  directorates  of  the  Mechanics  and  Savings 
Bank  of  Great  Barrington.  and  the  Honsatonic  National  Bank.  Stock- 
bridge. 

His  public  spirit  was  evinced  in  many  ways.  It  was  he  who  fur- 
nished the  model  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  Great  Barrington,  and  he 
contributed  largely  to  the  cost  of  its  erection.  He  defrayed  a  large 
share  of  the  expense  of  Trinity  church  building  at  Van  Deusenville. 
He  devised  a  sum  for  the  building  of  the  House  of  Mercy  Mortuary 
Chapel  at  Pittsfield.  Politically  he  was  originally  an  old  line  Whig,  and 
from  its  formation  a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  serving  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  national  convention  which  in  i860  nominated  Abraham  Lin- 
coln for  the  iiresidenxy.  His  patriotism  found  free  vent  during  the  dark 
days  of  the  rebellion  when  voice  and  purse  were  ever  at  his  country's  serv- 
ice. A  life-time  associate  of  Mr.  Coffing  pays  this  tribute  to  his  old 
friend :  "  In  matters  of  business  Mr.  Coffing  exercised  sound  judgment 
and  great  foresight,  weighing  carefully  the  subject  presented,  express- 
ing his  views  with  originality  and  clearness  and  acting  promptly  and  ef- 
ficiently. Open  and  frank,  proverbially  truthful  and  honest  himself  he 
would  brook  no  duplicity  or  deceit  in  others.  With  more  than  ordinary 
mechanical  skill,  he  combined  good  taste  and  an  appreciation  of  the  beau- 
tiful; he  did  well  what  he  did;  built  well  what  he  built,  always  with  an 
eye  to  usefulness  and  durability,  and  benevolent  and  generous  in  his 
public  contributions,  he  was  e\'er  ready  to  assist  in  a  worthy  object. 
His  private  gifts  to  the  needy  were  numerous,  unostentatious — often 
unsolicited.  Many  young  men  have  profited  by  his  counsel  and  many 
have  recei\ed  from  him  substantial  pecimiary  aid."     His  declining  years 


'228  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

were  spent  in  improving'  his  farm  and  beautifying  his  home  at  Van  Deu- 
senville,  A\]iere  he  died  August  14.  1S82.  He  married,  Feljruary  27, 
1833,  Rebecca  F.  Bostwick,  of  SaHsbnry.     She  died  October  16,   1903. 

JAMES   FESTUS   MILLER. 

James  F.  Aliller,  deceased,  who  during  a  long  and  active  hfe  bore  a 
most  useful  part  in  the  community  among  whom  his  years  were  passed, 
was  born  July  30,  1825,  in  the  town  of  Middlefield,  Hampshire  county. 
Massachusetts. 

James  ]\Iiller,  father  of  James  F.  Miller,  was  born  in  Chester,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1798.  He  was  a  man  of  strong'  mentality,  business  ability 
and  unerring  judgment,  and  for  the  long'  period  of  thirty-five  years 
served  in  the  capacity  of  superintendent  of  the  Plunkett  Woolen  Alanu- 
facturing'  Company's  mills  in  Hinsdale,  Massachusetts,  this  record  speak- 
ing" for  itself.  In  1824,  by  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Nash,  Mr.  ]\Iiller  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Lucy  Starr,  born  in  Lanesljoro,  Massachusetts,  in 
1796,  and  the  following  named  children  were  born  to  them:  James 
Festus,  mentioned  hereinafter.  Eliza  A.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Sum- 
ner Church,  of  Middlefield,  Massachusetts.  Emily,  who  became  the 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Smith,  and  they  with  their  two  children  reside  in  Chi- 
cago, Illinois.  Ellen,  who  became  the  A\ife  of  Frank  Sawyer,  of  Hins- 
dale, and  they  and  their  three  children — Fred,  Robert  and  Alary — make 
iheir  home  in  Chicago,  Illin(jis. 

James  F.  Miller  obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  rudimentary  branches 
of  education  in  the  rural  district  school,  and  this  was  supplemented 
by  attendance  for  a  few  years  at  a  private  boarding  school  at  Poultney, 
VermcMit.  After  completing-  his  studies  he  secured  a  position  as  clerk 
in  the  store  nf  *^inp  Plunkett  Woolen  Manufacturing  Company  in  Hins- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  229 

dale,  in  Avhose  ser\ice  his  father  was  also  employed,  remaining-  there  for 
a  numl)er  of  years.  At  the  breaking-  out  of  the  Civil  war.  when  the 
country  was  in  sore  need  of  the  services  of  her  lo}'al  citizens,  Air.  Miller 
went  to  New  York  city  and  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Se\-enty- 
sixth  Reg'iment,  New  York  Volunteers.  Throughout  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  his  regiment  participated  he  ser\ed  creditably  and  faith- 
fully, and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  returned  to  the  position  he  re- 
signed in  order  to  serve  his  country.  For  about  ten  years  he  resided  on 
the  old  Miller  homestead,  and  in  1886  removed  to  Pittsfield,  where  for 
a  period  of  six  years  lie  carried  the  United  States  mail  from  the  depot  to 
the  postoliice.  About  the  year  1895  he  retired  from  active  pursuits,  and 
thereafter  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease  enjoyed  the  reward  of  a  well 
spent  life.  He  was  an  attendant  of  the  South  Congregational  church, 
and  in  all  worthy  enterprises  gave  a  strong  and  earnest  support.  He  was 
a  staunch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  Democracy,  casting"  his  vote  with 
that  party  from  the  time  he  attained  his  majority.  He  was  a  member 
of  Berkshire  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  1876  Mr.  Miller 
married  Jennie  E.  Day,  daughter  of  Alvin  and  Esther  (Cross)  Day.  of 
Hinsdale,  Massachusetts,  who  were  the  parents  of  several  children,  among 
whom  were:  Carrie  I.,  who  resides  with  Mrs.  Miller;  Edward  W'.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  printing  business  in  Pittsfield;  Homer  I.,  who  also  re- 
sides with  Mrs.  Miller;  and  Eugene  A.  Day,  who  resides  in  the  neigh- 
boring town  of  Hinsdale.  Mr.  Miller  passed  away  at  his  pleasant  home. 
No.  22  First  street,  Pittstield,  February  11,  1904.  His  widow,  prior  to 
her  marriage,  taught  school  in  Hinsdale  for  a  period  of  twelve  years, 
and  many  of  the  residents  of  that  town  will  recall  the  amount  of  per- 
suasive power  she  used  in  her  endeavors  to  instill  in  their  minds  the 
knowledge  she  wished  to  impart. 


230  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

ALEXANDER  KENNEDY. 

Even'where  the  sons  of  Scotia  have  proved  equal  to  large  respon- 
sibilities and  the  Berkshire  Hill  country  has  its  share  of  men  oi  that 
nationality  or  ancestry  whose  careers  have  made  for  progress.  Of  these 
the  g^entleman  whose  name  introduces  tliese  memoirs  is  a  generally 
recognized  exponent. 

Alexander  Kennedy  was  born  December  14,  1840,  in  Dumfries- 
shire, Scotland,  quitting  school  and  his  country  home  to  become  appren- 
ticed for  a  four  years'  term  to  learn  the  dry  goods  business  in  the  lead- 
ing house  of  Dumfries  by  which  he  continued  to  be  employed  for  an 
additional  four  years.  Thus  initially  well  equipped  for  the  business 
which  was  destined  to  be  his  life  work,  and  ambitious  to  enter  a  field  of 
broader  and  more  promising  prospects,  he  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1865  and  secured  immediate  employment  with  the  well-known  Church- 
ill, Watsou  &  Company  dry  goods  house  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  thus 
early  becoming  inducted  to  the  best  possible  advantage  into  the  new 
world  business  methods  of  his  trade.  Three  years  later  he  entered  into 
business  for  himself  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  subsequently  removing 
to  Albany,  New  York,  to  engage  in  the  same  line,  remaining  in  the 
last  named  cities  for  periods  of  three  years  and  finding  each  alike  well 
supplied  with  dry  goods  merchants  of  large  means  and  abundant  enter- 
prise. The  proferred  sale  of  the  Smith  &  Wallace  dry  goods  business 
at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  coming  to  the  notice  of  Mr.  Kennedy  and 
Mr.  W.  D.  Maclnnes  resulted  in  its  purchase  by  them  and  the  subse- 
quent building  up  of  one  of  the  largest  mercantile  establishments  in 
M^estern  Massachusetts,  drawing  a  constantly  increasing  and  well  satis- 
fied patronag'e  from  Berkshire  and  adjoining  counties.  The  firm  trans- 
acted lousiness  as  Kennedy  &  Maclnnes  Company  up  to  February  i,  1905, 


T  Ue  I.eii,is  J^ubU'^ancj  L'o 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  231 

when   it   was    incorporated   as    The   Kennedy-^laclnnes   Company,   ]\Ir. 
Kennedy  being  its  treasinxr. 

Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  valued  and  ^'ahlable  citizen  keenly  interested  in 
and  contributory  to  all  methods,  measures  and  enterprises  that  appealed 
to  him  as  calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  home  of  his  adop- 
tion. He  served  with  efficiency  as  president  of  Pittsfield's  board  of 
trade;  is  a  director  of  Pittsfield  National  Bank,  and  Pittsfield  Street 
Railway  Company ;  president  of  the  Pittsfield  Electric  Light  Companv 
and  one  of  the  founders  and  first  president  of  the  local  branch  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
investment  .of  the  Berkshire  County  Savings  Bank.  He  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  the  late  John  Rodgers,  the  well  known  machinist  and  builder 
of  engines  of  Albany,  New  York.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedv 
are:  Ethel,  Mary  R.,  Alexander,  Jr.,  and  Isabel.  The  son  is  a  Cornell 
University  junior.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Eirst  Congrega- 
tional church,  j\Ir.  Kennedy  being  one  of  its  board  of  deacons. 

FRED  EOREST  DO^^'LIN. 

Fred  Forest  Dowlin,  who  is  known  as  a  man  of  high  attainments 
and  as  one  wdio  has  achie\'ed  success  at  the  bar,  was  born  in  North 
Adams,  June  19,  1868,  being  a  son  of  Marshall  R.  and  Sophia  (Mc- 
Goon)  Dowlin.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Bradford,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  there  grew  to  years  of  maturity  and  resided  until  1861,  when 
he  removed  to  Concord,  where  he  learned  the  harness  maker's  trade. 
About  1864  he  took  up  his  abode  in  North  Adams,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  about  four  years  while  engaged  in  business  in  Westfield  he  re- 
sided here  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  passing  away 
November  3,  1904.     In  addition  to  the  success  which  he  achieved  as  a 


232  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

harness  maker,  he  inx'entecl  several  articles  which  proNed  valnahle  and 
l)roughl  him  handsome  retnrns,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  these  l:)eing 
the  Dowlin  hook  swivel  for  headstalls,  while  another  was  the  I)()wlin 
donble-pnrchase  trnnk  strap.  Some  of  the  articles  which  he  in\ented 
were  manufactured  by  himself  and  some  l)y  others,  he  receiving-  royal- 
ties. He  was  an  energetic  and  straightfor^\•ard  luisiness  man.  a  staunch 
Republican,  and  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Methtxlist  church.  As 
a  citizen,  neighbor  and  friend  he  Avas  upright,  kind  and  charitable,  and 
as  husband  and  father  he  faithfullv  fulfilled  e\ery  obligation.  At  his 
death  he  left  his  widow  and  three  sons,  Ralijh,  who  succeeded  to  his  fath- 
er's leather  goods  manufacturing  at  North  Adams;  Dr.  Winfred  M.,  of 
Claremont.  Xew  Hampshire;  and  Fred  F.,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review. 

Fred  Forest  Dowlin  received  his  early  educational  training  in  the 
public  schools  of  North  Adams,  this  being  supijlemented  by  a  course 
of  study  in  St.  Joseph's  College,  Ottawa,  Canada,  and  sulisequent  atten- 
dance at  Troy  Conference,  from  which  institution  he  was  graduated. 
His  professional  studies  were  pursued  in  the  Boston  University  Law 
School,  where  he  receiAcd  the  degree  of  B.  L.  Returning  to  North 
Adams  he  entered  into  a  partnership  association  for  the  practice  of  law 
with  E.  H.  Beer,  under  the  firm  name  Beer  &  Dowlin.  and  this  was 
continued  for  twelve  years,  when,  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  June  i, 
1903.  Mr.  Dowlin's  especial  value  to  the  place  of  his  nativity  is  in  the 
extent  and  character  of  his  Ijuilding  operations,  which  resulted  in  the 
erection  of  sc^ne  of  the  most  notaljle  and  Ijeautiful  of  the  business  blocks 
and  residential  structures  of  North  Adams.  In  the  boldness  of  his  con- 
ceptions and  the  \\gor  and  succe'^s  of  his  achie\-ements  in  this  direction 
Mr.  Dowlin  stands  alone.  ha\'ing  accomplished  more  than  any  other  one 
man  in  this  most  substantial  of  all  lines  of  progress.     He  built  the  Dowlin 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  -233 

block,  one  of  the  handsomest  buil(hno-s  in  the  city.  It  is  located  on 
Main  street,  six  stories  high,  eight}'  feet  front  and  contains  seventy-two 
thousand  square  feet  of  floor  space,  which  is  devoted  to  the  use  of  stores, 
offices,  clubs,  society  rooms  and  liachelor  apartments.  Its  front  eleva- 
tion is  of  Rutland  blue  and  Avhite  marble;  it  is  supplied  with  an  electric 
elevator,  electric  lights  and  all  modern  im])rovements  and  is  entirely 
fire  proof.  Another  notable  structure  for  which  he  is  partly  responsi- 
ble is  the  Beer  &  Dowlin  block  at  No.  85  Eagle  street,  erected  in  1893. 
It  is  a  four-story  granite  structure  fronting  on  Eagle  and  Luther  streets. 
Avhile  still  another  is  the  Dowlin  block  on  Holder  street,  built  by  Mr. 
Dowlin  in  i8g6.  It  is  a  four-story  brick  building  with  white  marble 
trimmings.  ]\Ir.  Dowlin  has  also  erected  over  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dwellings  in  the  city.  The  Dowlin  block  and  other  propertv  are  now 
owned  by  the  Dowlin  Realty  Trust,  Judge  C.  T.  Phelps.  Charles  W. 
Ford  and  Fred  F.  Dowlin,  trustees.  In  the  line  of  his  profession  he  has 
also  achieved  a  high  degree  of  success,  and  has  been  engaged  on  many 
trial  cases.  He  was  the  junior  counsel  for  the  defense  in  the  celebrated 
O'Xeil  murder  case  tried  in  Greenfield,  Massachusetts,  and  of  which  the 
state  published  a  complete  report,  this  being  one  of  the  first  cases  of  its 
kind  so  published. 

On  the  8th  of  September.  1892,  Mr.  Dowlin  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Julia  I.  E.  Royce.  a  daughter  of  George  and  Martha  A.  Royce, 
of  Orwell,  Vermont.  She  became  the  mother  of  one  son,  Marshall  R., 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  her  death  occurred  on  the  13th  of  October, 
1893.  On  the  14th  of  September.  1898.  Mr.  Dowlin  married  Jennie 
Belle  Bingham,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  B.  Bingham,  of 
North  Adams.  Massachusetts.  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Dowlin  have  two  children, 
Fred  Forest,  born  June  13.  1899.  and  Glendore  Marshall,  born  July  30, 
1903:  a  third  son.  Myrle,  died  in  infancy. 


234  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

ANDREW   J.    WATERMAN. 

Andrew  J.  \\^ate.rm.an,  late  attorney-general  and  leading  attorney  of 
the  commonwealth,  was  born  in  North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  June  23, 
1825,  son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Bucklin)   Waterman. 

A  liberal  general  education  was  followed  by  his  study  of  law  initial- 
ly under  the  preceptorship  of  Hon.  Keyes  Danforth  and  subsequently 
with  Hon.  Daniel  N.  Dewey,  Williamstown,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  Berkshire  county,  March  18,  1854.  His  initial  practice  was  in 
partnership  association  at  Williamstown  with  Mr.  Danforth. 

He  was  appointed  register  of  probate  in  1855,  and  in  1858,  after 
the  courts  of  probate  and  insolvency  were  consolidated,  he  was  chosen 
register  of  probate  and  insolvency,  which  office  he  resigned  in  1881. 
In  1880,  he  was  appointed  district  attorney  to  fill  an  unexpired  term 
and  was  chosen  for  that  office  for  the  three  succeeding  terms,  resigning 
therefrom  in  1887,  when  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  to  the 
state  attorne}-  generalship,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1887-88-89.  Mr. 
Waterman  was  president  for  a  number  of  years  of  the  Pittsfield  National 
Bank  and  one  of  its  directors  for  many  years,  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  City  Savings  Bank,  and  active  in  his  interest  and  identification  with 
numerous  other  important  institutions-. 

He  married,  at  East  Boston,  Massachusetts,  January  7,  1858,  Ellen, 
daughter  of  Henry  H.  and  Nancy   (Comstock)    Cooke. 

The  following  is  a  tribute  paid  to  the  memoiy  of  the  late  Andrew 
J.  Waterman  by  Hon.  John  F.  Noxon,  delivered  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Berkshire  County  Bar  Association : 

"  My  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Waterman  began  in  1881,  when  I  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law  in  his  office.  He  had  but  recently  been  ap- 
pointed tO'  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  district  attorney.  During  most 
of  the  time  from  that  lime  until  his  death,  we  were  associated  in  busi- 


^l^tJL 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  235 

ness  and  in  the  trial  of  cases.  The  relationship  so  long  continued  grew 
in  its  intimacy  with  the  progress  of  time.  He  early  made  me  his  friend. 
The  ties  of  love  and  esteem  which  bound  me  to  him  strengthened  to  the 
end.  When  his  summons  came,  I  felt  that  there  had  gone  out  of  my  life 
something  which  was  never  to  be  filled. 

''  What  I  have  to  say  to-day  must  necessarily  be  personal  in  its 
character.  If  it  shall  appear  to  be  over-laudatory,  it  is  perhaps  sufficient 
to  say  it  is  the  natural  expression  of  one,  who  long  ago  learned  the 
wisdom  of  the  injunction  '  the  friends  thou  hast  and  their  affections  tried, 
grapple  them  to  thy  soul  with  hoops-  of  steel.' 

"  There  is  no  time  in  the  life  of  a  lawyer  when  assistance  in  the 
vexatious  questions  that  arise  in  the  prosecution  of  his  profession  meets 
with  such  grateful  acceptance  as  during  the  first  few  years  of  his  prac- 
tice. And  fortunate,  indeed,  is  one  if  he  finds  some  lawyer  of  ripe  ex- 
perience and  good  judgment  to  whom  he  can  turn  for  advice  in  his 
extremity  with  the  feeling  that  help  will  be  given  in  such  a  way  as  to 
leave  the  impression  that  it  was  a  pleasure  to  give,  and  more  important 
still  so  that  the  recipient  shall  not  feel  as  he  turns  away  that  the  mouse 
has  been  to  the  mountain.  Such  a  man  in  my  early  practice  I  found 
Mr.  Waterman  tO'  be;  and  this  side  of  his  nature  was  not  exhibited  alone 
to  me  as  my  brethren  of  the  bar  will  bear  me  witness. 

"  I  think  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  lawyer  of  his  county  was  so-  much 
consulted  by  the  younger  members  of  the  bar  as  he,  when  his  duties 
were  such  that  his  assistance  was  available.  He  liked  young  men  and 
he  wanted  them  to  succeed.  We  all  know  that  it  was  a  common  occur- 
rence for  him  in  the  trial  of  cases  when  he  was  associated  as  senior 
counsel  to  urge  that  the  junior  make  the  argument  in  the  case  to  the 
jury.  He  knew  it  would  give  confidence  and  would  be  a  benefit  to  the 
young  practitioner,  and  he  was  so  good  a  judge  of  human  nature  as  to 
know  that  it  would  not  prejudice  the  client's  case.  He  was  fortunate 
in  his  disposition  towards  young  men.  This  trait  built  up  around  him 
a  friendship  from  among  the  younger  members  of  the  bar  that  was 
always  eager  to  assert  itself  when  occasion  presented. 

"As  a  lawyer  he  won  for  himself  early  a  position  in  the  bar  of 
Western  Massachusetts  of  the  first  influence.  His  advancement  was 
■  not  in  any  degree  procured  or  promoted  by  adventitious  circumstances. 
Possessing  in  more  than  ordinary  degree  a  knowledge  of  human  na- 
ture, endowed  with  great  common  sense,  a  man  of  sound  moral  prin- 
ciples, a  willingness  and  capacity  for  hard  work,  these  were  the  pre- 
eminent- qualities  of  the  man. 

"On  a  legal  proposition  he  never  could  split  hairs.  He  was  not 
a  great  orator — he  never  carried  cases  in  his  hat,  but  possessed  a  judi- 
cial mind,  and  as  a  trier  of  cases  before  either  court  or  jury  he  achieved 


236  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

results.  He  liad  a  faculty  of  winning  his  cases.  His  understanding  of 
the  principles  of  law  was  seldom  at  fault.  His  method  of  preparing  a 
case  where  questions  of  law  were  involved  was  to  get  at  the  correct  prin- 
ciple of  law  underlying  it  and  when  he  had  satisfied  himself  on  that  he 
hammered  awa}',  if  you  will  permit  the  expression,  on  the  reason  of 
the  thing.  He  believed  that  the  law  was  based  on  justice;  that  his 
client's  interests  were  l:iest  subser\'ed  by  adxising  him  to  do  what  was 
nght. 

"  His  experience  for  so  many  years,  in  the  office  of  register  of  pro- 
bate where  he  had  heen  called  upon  so  often  to  smooth  out  differences 
that  arise  in  the  settlement  of  estates  probably  nurtured  this  disposition 
on  his  part,  but  it  was  his  heritage,  innate.  I  have  known  many  in- 
stances where  both  parties  to  a  controversy  have  called  upon  him  to 
adjust  their  differences.  He  was  a  gentleman  always — in  the  trial  of 
cases  his  attitude  towards  hostile  witnesses  was  never  irritating.  He 
ne\  er  created  sympathy  for  the  other  side  by  rudeness  of  attack. 

"  He  was  as  honest  a  man  as  I  e\^er  knew.  He  wanted  to  know  the 
exact  facts  in  a  case  and  he  was  just  as  insistent  in  getting  at  the  exact 
law  that  should  govern  them.  I  do  not  believe  he  ever  argued  wittingly 
unsound  law,  something-  I  fear  that  a  good  many  of  us  in  the  stress 
of  a  hard  case  find  it  pretty  hard  not  to  do.  This  honesty  of  the  man- 
earned  for  him  the  well  known  sobriquet  '  Honest  Jack  Waterman,'  and 
this  well  known  quality  gave  him  great  influence  not  only  before  jurors 
but  before  judges  as  well.  He  was  an  open-minded  man.  He  wel- 
comed light  always.  He  was  a  man  furthermore  of  strong  convictions. 
He  allowed  no  influence  to  muflle  the  voice  of  duty.  He  would  not 
sacrifice  principle  or  temporize  with  the  plain  indication  of  duty  to 
secure  preferment.  He  always  had  the  courage  of  his  conviction. 
Whether  as  a  citizen,  a  lawyer,  a  public  servant  or  holding  important 
position  in  business  institutions,  he  was  positive  and  outspoken. 

"  H^is  views  on  public  questions  were  always  well  known  and  they 
were  ne\-er  clothed  to  fit  his  audience.  Always  a  strong  temperance  man, 
on  his  first  appearance  on  the  platform  when  a  candidate  for  the  office 
of  district  attorney  he  fairly  frightened  some  of  his  political  friends 
by  his  strong  utterances  on  that  question.  Apparently  he  never  counted 
the  cost  when  facing  what  he  believed  to  be  a  duty.  He  cared  nothing 
for  a  smooth  road.  Notable  instances  of  this  he  furnished  when  dis- 
trict attorney  in  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  a  manufacturer  in  this 
county  for  maintaining  a  dam  which  he  belie\-ed  to  be  a  nuisance,  which 
act  was  opposed  to  the  interests  of  every  manufacturer  in  his  district. 
Another  instance  was  seen  in  his  investigation  of  certain  acts  of  the 
West  End  Railway  Company  of  Bostou  while  he  was  attorney  general, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  287 

whereby  he  brought  against  himself  the  whole  influence  of  that  power- 
ful corporation. 

"  In  the  eyes  of  a  politician,  these  various  acts  were  mistakes. 
Thev  endangererl  his  hold  upon  office.  In  the  estimation  of  such  a 
one  he  should  have  been  governed  in  his  course  by  his  own  interest. 
It  was  impossible  for  Mr.  Waterman  to  be  moved  by  considerations  of 
this  character.  There  was  nothing  of  the  politician  in  him.  It  was  not 
in  him  to  shape  his  course  by  anything  but  the  star  of  his  conscience. 
Tlie  world  has  few  of  such  men.  These  are  the  really  true  men,  and 
thev  are  the  men  wh.o  influence  their  fellows.  The  bar  of  this  county 
do  A\cll  to  cherish  his  memory — such  men  give  standing  to  the  whole 
bnr.     Thev  are  tlie  tvpe  of  men  to  1)e  emulated." 


FREDERICK  ALPHA  ROBERTS. 

Practicing  in  partnership  association  at  Pittsfield  with  Dr.  Oscar  S. 
Roberts,  whose  personal  and  genealogical  memoirs  are  contained  here- 
in, is  his  nephew.  Dr.  Frederick  A.  Roberts,  son  of  Mr.  Edward  L.  Rob- 
erts, retired  merchant  of  Brattleboro,  Vermont.  The  younger  gentle- 
man, like  the  elder,  has  given  abundant  demonstration  tlia:t  his  choice 
of  a  profession  was  well  ad\ised,  and  he,  too,  evinces  possession  of  his 
full  share  of  those  most  \'aluable  and  useful  of  hereditaments  from  his 
sturdy  New  England  ancestors,  industry  and  integrity. 

Frederick  Alpha  Roberts  was  born  at  Jacksonxille,  \'ermnnt,  June 
i8.  1863;  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  nati\e  place,  and  shortly 
after  attaining  his  majority  established  himself  in  the  b.jot  and  shoe 
business  at  Brattleboro.  Vermont.  He  subsequently  engag'ed  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits  in  New  York,  and  while  in  the  latter  city  in  1893  ^on- 
cei\e(l  the  idea  of  adopting  the  practice  of  medicine  as  his  life  \\()rk.  To 
this  end  he  immediately  entered  ui)on  the  study  of  the  standard  medical 
text  books  in  conjunction  with  his  clerical  mercantile  labors,  devoting 
himself  more  and  more  attcntivel}-  to  the  former,  while  his  interest  in 
commercial   pursuits   as   steadily   abated   and    final h"    in    1894   he   aban- 


238  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

donecl  the  latter  upon  his  entrance  to  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York.  After  one  year's  attendance  upon  the  lectures  and 
clinics  of  this  institution,  he  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, Baltimore,  Maryland,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1897.  In  June  of  that  year  he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Pittsfield,  in  the  office  of  his  uncle  heretofore  referred 
to,  and  it  is  a  sufficient  attestation  of  his  general  equipment  as  a  prac- 
titioner that  since  1900  he  has  been  in  partnership  association  with  Dr. 
O.  S.  Roberts,  sharing  with  that  distinguished  physician  a  full  measure 
of  the  responsibilities  of  a  great  practice.  Dr.  F.  A.  Roberts  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Massachusetts  State  Medical  Association,  and  the  Berkshire 
Medical  Society.  His  fraternal  connection  is  with  Free  ]Masonry  and 
Odd  Fellowship,  being  a  member  in  the  former  of  Mystic  Lodge,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  Berkshire  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Pittsfield  Commandery,  K.  T. ; 
and  in  the  latter  a  member  of  Wantasticjuet  Lodge,  Brattleboro.  He 
married.  May  2,  1901.  Florence  A.,  daughter  of  Mr.  Wallace  A.  Bard- 
well,  a  native  of  Hampden  county,  Massachusetts,  but  more  recently  of 
Flmira,  New  York ;  now  an  expert  accountant  in  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  also  has  charge  of  the  books  of  the  E.  D.  Jones  Com- 
pany. 

THEODORE    GEORGE    RAMSDELL. 

Theodore  G.  Ramsdell,  deceased,  whose  successful  business  career 
in  Housatonic,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  displayed  executive 
abilit}-  of  a  high  order,  admirable  judgment  and  foresight,  traces  his 
ancestr}-  to  Abijah  Ramsdell.  Avho  was  born  in  England  in  1695,  and 
upon  his  arrival  in  .Vmerica  settled  in  Lynn,  Massachusetts.  The  line 
of  descent  is  through  his  son,  Abijah  Ramsdell,  to 

Ramsdell,  Captain  \\"illiam.  who  was  born  in  Lynn,  ]\Iassachusetts, 


s^C^ 


t^^^^^^^^^<^^^^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY    .  239 

April  ic,  1/66.  He  followed  the  sea  from  early  youth  until  about  fifty 
years  of  age,  when  he  retired  to  a  farm  in  Milford,  New  Hampshire, 
and  remained  there  until  his  death  in  1842.  His  education  was  gained 
in  the  various  parts  of  the  world  which  he  visited.  He  was  a  sailor 
of  unusually  wide  experience,  and  a  successful  captain,  commanding 
an  East  India  merchantman  sailing  from  Salem  harbor.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  "  Milford  Lyceum  "  (educational  and  literary  society) 
and  one  of  its  most  active  and  efficient  workers.     He  was  the  father  of 

Ramsdell.  John,  born  December  30,  1809,  in  Salem,  Massachusetts. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Milford  and  at  a  private 
school  in  Nashua.  For  two  years  he  served  before  the  mast,  and  for 
three  years  as  third  mate  and  supercargo  on  merchantmen  to-  South 
America,  Sumatra,  the  Mediterranean  and  Holland.  He  then  took  up 
farming  and  tanning  in  Milford.  New  Hampshire,  and  later  acted  as 
stat"'on  agent  at  Amherst  and  Milford  four  years.  In  middle  life  he 
moved  to  Tama,  Iowa,  and  became  one  of  its  pioneer  settlers,  finishing 
his  days  as  a  farmer.  He  served  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor  of  Tama 
count}',  mayor  of  Tama  city,  and  county  superintendent  of  schools.  He 
was  an  active  member  of  "  Milford  Lyceum  "  while  a  resident  of  Mil- 
ford, and  its  poetic  agent,  he  ha\ing  been  an  excellent  writer  of  prose 
and  poetry.  As  one  of  the  original  abolitionists,  he  wrote,  talked  and 
Avorked  fervently  for  the  cause.  The  demand  of  the  south  that  the 
north  should  render  up  fugitive  slaves  brought  from  him  a  poem,  which 
appeared  in  the  public  prints  of  almost  every  northern  paper.  He  was 
a  Ccngregationalist,  and  was  one  of  the  "  Comers-Out  "  who  withdrew 
from  the  church  or,  account  of  its  lukewarmness  on  the  question  of 
sla\  er}-. 

Mr.  Ramsdell  married  Taska  Theresa  Moore,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary  7,    18 lo,   in   Milford,    New   Hampshire,   a   daughter  of  the  Rev. 


240  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Humphrey  and  Hannah  (Peal^ody)  Moore.     Dr.  Moore  was  a  graduate 
of   Harvard   College,   was  a  noted  lecturer  and  preacher,  many  of  his 
sermons  and  learned  treatises  on  theological  subjects  'having-  been  pub- 
lished.    He  ser\'ed  one  term  each  in  the  senate  and  legislature,  taking 
an  active  part  in  anti-slavery  movements.     He  was  a  son  of  Humphrey 
M(;ore,  of  Princeton,  Massachusetts;  a  grandson  of  Paul  Moore;  a  great- 
grar.dson  of  John  Moore;  and  a  great-great-grandson  of  John  Moore, 
the  en'j'grant  ancestor  from  England.     William  Peabody,  Jr.,  the  father 
of  Hannah   (Peabodv)  ]\Toore,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Milford,  New 
Hampshire,  serving  four  terms  in  the  legislature.     He  was  one  of  the 
original  signers  of  a  paper  drawn  up  by  citizens  of  New  Hampshire  in- 
veighing ?gainst  British  rule  and  announcing  their  intention  of  joining 
other  colonists  in  revolution.      His   father,   William   Peabody,   Sr.,   was 
the  first  settler  of  Milford,  also  a  signer  of  the  above  mentioned  paper. 
The  farm  which  he  cleared  up  was  part  of  an  estate  which  had  been  in 
the  fan-;ily  for  over  one  hundred  years;  it  was  presented  to  his  father, 
Captain  Steven  Peabody,  by  the  state  of  Massachusetts  for  distinguished 
services  rendered  b}'  his   father,   Lieutenant  Francis   Peabody,  in  King 
Philip's  war.     Captain  Steven  Peabody  enlisted  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 
was  an   enthusiastic   patriot,  but  was   later  removed   from  public  office 
by  George  HI  because  of  sympathy  with  colonists.     He  w'as  adjutant- 
general  of  Colonel   Reid's  regiment  at  Bunker  Hill,  became  major  of  a 
regiment  sent  under  Colonel  Wyman  to  reinforce  troops  in  Canada  in 
1776,  was  volunteer  captain  in  the  alarm  at  Ticonderoga,  aide  to  Gen- 
eral Stark  in  the  battle  of  Bennington,  lieutenant-colonel  under  General 
WvnK:n  during  the  defense  of  Rhode  Island.      His  father.   Lieutenant 
Frr..i;cis   Peabody,    who    rendered    such    distinguished    seiwices    in    King 
Plii lip's  war,  was  the  emigrant  ancestor  from  England.     He  came  over 
in  tiie  ship  "  Planter  "  to  New  England,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  241 

Hampton,  and  later  removed  to  Topsfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  be- 
came a  large  landholder  and  was  prominent  for  enterprise  and  wealth. 
John  and  Taska  T.  (Moore)  Ramsdeli  were  the  parents  of 

Ramsdell,  Theodore  George,  born  February  8,  1833.  He  attended 
the  pi-blic  schools  of  Milford,  New  Hampsliire,  until  he  was  eleven 
years  old,  and  two  years  later  began  his  active  career  by  working  in  a  cot- 
ton mill  in  Mason  village,  now  Greenville,  New  Hampshire.  He  worked 
successively  in  the  Nashua  Manufacturing  Company  and  the  old  mill 
in  Milford,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  appointed  overseer  of  a  spin- 
ning room  in  the  new  Souhegan  mill,  New  Hampshire.  After  remain- 
ing tlicre  three  years,  he  resigned  and  spent  a  year  at  Appleton  Academy 
v;ilh  his  life-long  friend  and  double  cousin,  George  A.  Ramsdeli,  who 
later  became  governor  of  New  Hampshire.  Subsequentlv  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  cotton  mills  of  Nashua,  Holyoke,  Manchester,  and  Indian 
Orchard,  usually  as  an  overseer,  until  October  18,  1864,  when  he  was 
c.-dled  to  Housatonic  as  superintendent  of  Monument  Mills,  and  remained 
there  until  his  death,  March  i,  1903.  In  1886  he  was  appointed  agent 
and  general  manager  of  the  mills,  becoming  subsequently  a  director  in 
the  company,  its  vice-president,  and  a  considerable  stockholder. 

The  exceptional  success  and  growth  of  the  cotton  industrv  in 
Housatonic  was  due  in  a  great  measure  to  his  wise  supervision  and  mas- 
tery of  details.  In  the  life  of  the  village  he  was  a  quiet  liut  almostt 
controlling  force,  which  was  known  and  recognized  in  every  agency 
which  sought  improvement.  Though  not  a  member,  he  was  a  regular 
attendant  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Housatonic,  was  a  member 
of  the  prudential  committee,  gave  largely  to  its  support,  endowing  it 
generously  at  his  death.  His  public  bequests,  besides  gifts  to  the  church 
and  House  of  Mercy  in  Pittsfield,  included  liberal  provision  for  the 
building  and  establishment  of  a  free  library  for  the  village  of  Housa- 
tonic.    He  was  a  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations. 


242  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

In  West  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  June  12,  1873,  Mr.  .Ramsdell 
married  Mary  Brainard  Spencer,  w'ho'  was  educated  in  the  pubhc  schools 
of  West  Stockbridge  and  New  York  city,  finishing  with  a  two  years' 
course  at  Hudson  River  Institute  (later  Claverack  College).  Her 
parents  were  Tliomas  Hall  and  Hannah  Brainard  (Smith)  Spencer. 
Thomas  Spencer  was  a  mechanic,  and  served  as  representative  and  in 
several  minor  public  offices.  Asa  Smith,  father  of  Mrs.  Thomas  Hall 
Spencer,  born  November  28,  1781,  died  May  11,  1858,  built  the  first 
cotton  mill  in  Connecticut.  The  children  of  this  union  are  as  follows : 
George  Spencer,  born  August  7,  1874,  in  Housatonic,  died  in  infancy. 
Edith  Moore,  born  April  2,  1876,  in  Housatonic,  was  educated  in  the 
pul>lic  schools  of  Housatonic  and  Great  Barrington,  Housatonic  •  Hall 
(Great  Barrington),  Howard  Seminary  (West  Bridgewater,  Massachu- 
setts), and  Wellesley  College.  She  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Gid- 
dings,  a  lawyer,  who  resides  in  Housatonic.  Theodore  Ellis,  born  Sep- 
tember 18,  1877,  '^'^'^s  educated  at  Housatonic  public  school,  Sedgwick 
Institute  (Great  Barrington),  Amherst  College,  Lowell  Textile  School. 
He  is  now  a  cotton  manufacturer,  and  succeeded  his  father  as  agent  of 
the  Monument  Mills.  He  resides  in  Housatonic.  Thomas  Spencer, 
born  May  15,  18S1,  was  educated  in  the  Housatonic  public  school,  Sedg- 
wick Institute  (Great  Barrington),  Cascadilla  School  (Ithaca,  New 
York),  and  Cornell  l^niversity.  He  is  now  a  mechanical  engineer,  and 
resides  at  Housatonic.  Mary  Louise,  born  Eebruary  17,  1883,  attended 
the  Housatonic  and  Great  Barrington  public  schools,  the  schools  of 
A^ienna  and  Berlin,  Dana  Hall   (Wellesley,  Massachusetts). 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  243 

RANDALL  HOWARD  BLANCHARD. 

The  wisdom  of  specializing  on  the  practice  of  a  profession  that  has 
developed  so  broadly  upon  many  lines  as  that  of  medicine  and  surgery 
cannot  be  gainsaid  and  is  being  more  resorted  to  each  year.  The 
gentleman  wliose  name  introduces  this  sketch  is  a  practitioner  of  that 
type. 

Randall  Ho\\ard  Blanchard  was  born  ]\Iay  3,  1872,  in  Portland. 
Maine,  son  of  William  F.  and  the  late  Harriet  (Sturdivant)  Blanchard, 
also  natives  of  Cumberland  county.  He  received  his  initial  schooling  in 
Portland  and  took  his  academic  course  at  St.  Johnsbury,  during  which 
latter  period  he  decided  upon  the  adoption  of  the  medical  profession, 
and  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in  conjunction  with  his  general 
studies  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Hartshorn,  a  leading  phy- 
sician of  that  locality.  In  1893  he  entered  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
College  (since  merged  with  the  medical  department  of  New  York  Uni- 
versity), and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1896.  During  the  fol- 
ing  year  he  had  the  advantage  of  service  in  various  hospitals  of  New 
York  city,  and  then  entered  u]:)on  general  practice  at  Deering,  Maine, 
.  where  he  remained  for  one  }ear.  His  preceptor,  Dr.  Hartshorn,  having 
in  the  meantime  specialized  his  practice  to  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose 
and  throat,  Dr.  Blanchard  determined  upon  following  in  his  footsteps 
and  pursued  his  subsequent  study  along  these  lines  under  Dr.  Harts- 
horn, adding  thereto  the  jjrescribed  clinical  course  of  the  New  York 
Ophthalmic  and  Aurnl  Institute.  He  located  in  Pittsfield  in  1902.  He 
is  one  of  the  staff  of  physicians  of  the  House  of  Mercy,  Pittsfield.  a 
memljer  of  tlie  Elaine  Medical  Society,  Massachusetts  Medical  Society 
and  American  Medical  Association.  Fraternally,  his  connection  is  with 
Crescent  Lodge    (Pittsfield),   F.   and   A.   M.     Dr.    Blanchard   married, 


244  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

June  i6,  1899.  Caroline,  daugbiter  of  John  S.  and  Abbie  Harris,  of  Port- 
land, Maine.  Thev  baAT  two  children,  Norman  Harris  and  Kenneth 
William  Blanchard.     They  reside  at  134  Appleton  avenue. 

SAMUEL    CAMP. 

Samuel  Camp,  of  Great  Barrington,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
born  in  Winsted,  Litchfield  county.  May  5,  1829,  and  died  in  Great 
Barrington  February  24,  1901,  son  of  Samuel  Sheldon  and  Betsy  (Mal- 
lory)  Camp.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Winsted,  and  moved 
to  Norfolk,  Connecticut,  the  year  of  his  birth,  having  purchased  a  fann 
and  established  a  chair  factory  in  that  town. 

Samuel  Sheldon  Camp  was  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Mercy  (Shel- 
don) Camp.  Samuel,  with  his  brother  Moses,  in  1796,  moved  from 
Norfolk  to  Winsted,  where  they  bought  farms  and  also  carried  on  the 
hc;tter's  trade.  They  continued  their  residence  there  until  1824.  Their 
father,  Moses  Camp,  was  born  in  Durham,  Connecticut,  where  he  mar- 
ried Thankful  Gaylord,  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Samuel  Gaylord.  He 
received  a  deed  of  land  in  Norfolk,  Connecticut,  in  1764,  and  was  a 
man  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  town.  He  was  a  member  of  Cap- 
tain Charles  Webb's  regiment,  which  crossed  the  Delaware  at  Trenton 
on  the  eve  of  December  25,  1776.  Moses  was  the  son  of  (Captain) 
Doctor  Abraham  Camp,  who  went  from  Milford,  Connecticut,  to  Dur- 
ham, where  he  married  Martha  Parsons,  and  moved  to  Norfolk  in  1763. 
He  was  the  son  of  John  Camp,  Jr.,  who  married  Phebe  Canfield,  and 
moved  from  Milford  to  Durham  in  1762.  Jolin,  Jr.'s  father,  Edward, 
and  his  wnfe.  Mehitable  (Smith)  Camp,  were  natives  of  Milford,  in 
which  place  his  father,  Edward,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  counti^y, 
located,  after  remaining  a  time  in  New  Haven,  where  he  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers.     He  died  in  1659. 


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BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  245 

Samuel  Camp's  genealogy  contains  the  names  of  many  of  the 
early  settlers  who  were  men  of  attainments  and  prominent  in  the  af- 
fairs of  church  and  state,  among  them  being  Richard  Lyman,  Governor 
Thomas  Welles.  Governor  John  Webster,  Robert  Treat,  John  Robbins, 
Josiah  Churchill,  Nathaniel  Foote,  Rev.  Thomas  Carter,  first  minister 
of  Coburn,  Massachusets,  Elder  John  Strong,  Richard  Clapp,  Thomas 
Ford,  John  Stanley,  Thomas.  Bliss,  Joseph  Parsons,  Jasper  Crane,  Lieut. 
John  Smith,  who  was  slain  by  the  Indians.  Other  names  are  Pritchard, 
Buck,  Atwater,  Funduson,  Grant,  Hitchcock,  Merrill,  Marsh,  Olney, 
Woodford,  Ball,  Burt,  Stebbins  and  Jackson.  Colonel  Giles  Jackson, 
brother  of  his  great-grandmother,  was  chief  officer  on  General  Gates' 
staff,  and  drew  up  the  articles  of  capitulation  at  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne. 

Samuel  Camp  obtained  his  preliminary  education  in  Norfolk  and 
Winsted.  Fie  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  William  Welch,  of  Norfolk, 
who-  was  also  the  preceptor  of  his  three  brothers,  William,  Moses  and 
Charles,  all  graduates  of  the  University  of  New  York.  His  collegiate 
training  also  was  for  a  short  time  at  Woodstock,  Vermont.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  University  of  New  York  March  5,  185 1,  and  imme- 
diately after  graduation  established  himself  in  New  Marlborough.  Four 
years  later  he  removed  to  St.  Joseph,  Michigan.  Then  returning  to 
Berkshire  county  in  1859,  he  settled  in  Great  Barrington,  and  resided 
there  from  that  time  until  his  death,  engaged  in  active  practice  as  a 
physician  and  surgeon.  At  the  opening  of  the  Civil  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Andrews  to  examine  excepts  from  draft  and  as 
recruiting  agent  and  on  the  21st  of  September,  1861,  he  was  made  as- 
sistant surgeon  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteers. In  the  following  May,  however,  on  the  27th,  he  resigned  the 
latter  commission  on  account  of  ill  health.     When  his  health  was  re- 


246  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

stored  he  renewed  his  interest  in  procuring  recruits,  and  October  17, 
1863,  when  the  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  men  for  three  years 
was  made  he  w'as  again  appointed  at  a  special  town  meeting  to  enlist 
men.     This  agency  be  held  until  January,  1865. 

In  1872  with  Colonel  Robert  Leonard  he  established  a  flock  mill 
in  Barrington,  manufacturing  the  flocks  by  a  machine  invented  by  him- 
self.    This  mill  was  burned  in  1874  and  was  not  rebuilt. 

Dr.  Camp  w^as  surgeon  of  the  D.  G.  Anderson  Post,  No.  196,  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  from  its  organization.  From  1877 
to  1892  he  w-as  medical  examiner  for  Southern  Berkshire  and  from 
1889  to  1 901  w^as  United  States  pension  examiner  under  appointments 
of  Presidents  Harrison  and  McKinley.  He  w?a&  admitted  to^  member- 
ship in  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and  the  Berkshire  County 
Medical  Society  in  1852.     In  politics  he  was  a  lifelong  Republican. 

Dr.  Camp  was  married  August  12,  1852,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Jones 
of  New  York  city,  daughter  of  Joseph  Whiting  and  Rebecca  (Merritt) 
Jones,  of  Huguenot  and  English  descent.  They  had  four  children :  H. 
Isabel,  Charles  Morton  (deceased),  founders  of  the  Riverdale  Mills; 
Frank  Barnum  (deceased),  and  Mary  Emily  Camp. 

DR.  WILFRID  A.  MILLET. 

Dr.  Wilfrid  A.  Millet,  city  physician  of  Pittsfield,  is  a  native  of 
Canada,  having  been  born  October  30,  1869,  in  St.  Dominique,  Province 
of  Quebec.  His  father,  Elie  Millet,  born  in  1822,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  early  manhood  and  for  a  number  of  years  conducted  the  trad- 
ing post  at  Fort  Benton,  Colorado.  He  was  one  of  the  army  of  Cali- 
fornia gold  seekers  in  historic  '49,  and  at  one  time  held  the  governmental 
contract  for  carr}ing  the  mails  between  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  24T 

when  that  extra  Iiazardous  business  was  undertaken  Init  twice  a  vear, 
and  danger,  privation  and  fatigue  were  the  daih'  incidents  and  comfort 
and  ease  the  infrequent  accidents  of  the  trail.  He  returned  to  Canada 
in  1865,  and  the  following  3-ear  married  Marie  Ste])hanie  Chagnon,  of 
vSt.  Dominique,  where  he  continued  to  reside  up  to  the  time  of  his 
decease,  December  12,  1887. 

His  son,  AA'ilfrid  A.  ]\Iillet,  was  graduated  with  the  degree  A.B. 
from  St.  Hyacinthe  Seminar}',  Province  of  Quebec,  in  1889.  His  initial 
study  of  medicine  was  under  the  preceptorship  of  a  brother-in-law,  Dr. 
Gideon  Blanchette,  of  St.  Dominique.  He  then  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  from  which  institution  he 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  "93.  For  the  purpose  of  still  further 
pursuing  his  meJical  studies  he  went  abroad,  and  for  one  vear  attended 
the  clinics  and  lectures  und.er  Dr.  Pean,  of  the  International  Hospital, 
Paris.  France.  \\'ith  tliis  excellent  ecjuipment  for  practice  he  returned 
to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Fall  River,  Avhere  he  passed  the  state 
board  examination,  and  a\ hence  in  1896  he  came  to  Pittsfield,  where 
lie  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  present 
offices  in  the  Wright  block.  Dr.  ]\Tillet  has  won  the  esteem  of  his  C(il- 
leagues  and  the  confidence  of  th.e  communit}-.  as  is  attested  Ijy  his  in- 
cumbency of  the  city  jViiysicianship  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1904, 
and  re-elected  in  1905.  Pie  is  a  nieniber  of  .'uul  physician  for  several 
beneficial  orders,  and  examining  jihysician  for  the  Lhiion  Mutual  (Port- 
land, Maine),  John  Hancock  (Boston,  Massachusetts),  and  ]\Ietropolitan 
(New  York)  Life  Insurance  Companies.  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Berk- 
shire Medical  Society  and  the  American  Medical  Association.  It  is  an 
interesting  fact  and  worthv  of  remark  that  eight  of  I^r.  ^Millet's  kinsmen 
are  medical  practitioners,  viz.:  a  brother,  two  uncles,  two  cousins  and 
three  brothers-in-law.      Dr.   ^ylillct   married,   October    ii,    1904,   Louise, 


248  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

daughter  of  Emile  Pierre  Roy,  of  St.  Pie,  Province  of  Quebec,  now 
and  for  many  years  prefect  of  bis  county  and  now  ser\'ing  bis  second 
term  as  bis  county's  representative  in  tbe  provincial  chamber  and  the 
lower  bouse  of  parliament  of  the  Province  of  Quebec.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Millet  reside  at  131  Bradford  street,  the  former  home  of  Judge  John  C. 
Crosby,  recently  purchased  by  Dr.  Millet. 

JOHN    HENRY    COFFIN    CHURCH. 

One  of  those  energetic  and  enterprising  business  men  of  the  younger 
generation  whose  presence  is  essential  to  tbe  financial  prosperity  of  any 
community,  and  of  whom  Berkshire  county  has  a  full  representation,  is 
John  H.  C.  Church,  of  Great  Barrington.  He  is  the  son  of  Colonel 
George  and  Maria  Louise  (Bostwick)  Church,  and  was  born  January 
22,  1870. 

Mr.  Church  completed  his  primary  education  in  the  high  school, 
Great  Barrington,  from  which  he  w^as  graduated.  For  three  years  there- 
after be  studied  architecture  at  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technol- 
ogy, Boston,  and  subsecjuently  learned  tbe  pig  iron  business  at  the 
Richmond  Iron  Works.  In  1903  he  became  associated  with  tbe  Monu- 
ment Mills,  Housatonic,  as  assistant  treasurer  and  secretary,  and  now 
holds  tbe  position  of  treasurer  and  general  manager.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  urgent  and  imperative  demands  of  this  responsible  office  Mr. 
Chi-.rch  finds  time  for  attention  to  several  other  important  financial 
interests.  He  is  treasurer  of  tbe  Berkshire  Glass  Sand  Company,  sec- 
retary of  the  Stanley  Instrument  Company,  of  Great  Barrington,  and 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Richmond  Iron  Company.  He  is  vice-presi- 
dent of  tbe  Great  Barrington  Savings  Bank  and  director  of  the  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Mabaiwe.     In  1903  he  Vv^as  elected  associate  county  com- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  249 

niL^sioner  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Henry  Phelps,  who  resigned,  and 
in  1904  was  elected  for  a  full  term.  He  married,  January  31,  1894, 
Mary  Adele,  daughter  of  the  late  Charles  E.  Loop,  mechanical  engineer, 
and  for  a  long  time  a  resident  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  The  children 
horn  of  this  marriage  were :  Ruth,  George,  and  Mary.  Loop.  Mr. 
Church  is  vestry-man  of  St.  James  church,  and  his  family  attend  the 
Congregational  church,  Great  Barrington. 


JOHN  DAVLSON  SMITH. 

John  D.  Smith,  of  Dalton,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  a 
veteran  of  the  civil  war,  was  born  at  Goat  Island,  Niagara  Falls,  New 
York,  ]\Iarch  18.  T835.  His  father,  Asa  Smith,  was  the  owner  of  the 
island  and  witli  his  family,  which  consisted  of  father,  mother,  one  sister 
Rachel,  who  married  Mr.  ^Vright.  and  a  half-brother,  Waldo  Fuller,  of 
Becket,  Berksliire  county,  Massachusetts,  were  the  sole  occupants.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wright  took  up  their  residence  in  the  west  in  the  middle  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  Asa  Smith  was  born  in  1810,  died  in  1886,  aged 
seventy-six  years,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Louisa  Smith,  died  September  6, 
1891.     Their  children  were: 

Filander  F.  Smith,  who  was  born  at  Goat  Island,  New  York,  and 
subsequent!}'  removed  to  the  state  of  Vermont,  where  he  lived  for  many 
years;    his  death  occurred  in  l^vliddlefield,  Massachusetts. 

John  Da\ison  Smith,  mentioned  hereinafter. 

Julia  A.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  New  York.  Her  first  husband 
was  Edwin  Thayer,  of  Plainfield,  Massachusetts,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  one  son,  Irving  Thayer,  of  that  place.  Her  second  husband, 
Sylvester  Packard,  of  Plainfield,   Massachusetts,  no. issue.     About  this 


250  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

time  Asa  Smith  removed  his  family  to  Dalton,  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  first  child  born  tO'  them  there  was 

Willard  S.  Smith,  who  married  Mary  J.  Ferris,  of  Middlefield, 
where  they  now  live.  Their  children  Avere :  Jennie,  Eva,  Fred,  Frank, 
Nat,  deceased,  and  Clarence,  deceased. 

Sarah  A.  Smith,  born  October  27,  1845,  became  the  wife  of  Aaron 
T.  Bardin,  of  Windsor.  Mr.  Bardin  was  one  of  the  noted  characters 
of  Dalton.  In  his  native  town  he  conducted  a  successful  farm  business, 
and  was  the  incumbent  of  several  township  offices.  He  had  a  keen 
memory,  a  ready  \\\i  and  he  gained  much  notoriety  on  account  of  the 
readiness  v/ith  which  he  wrote  verses.  Their  children  are:  George  W., 
of  Middlefield,  Massachusetts;  Granville  D.,  and  Almira  M.,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  State  Normal  school  at  Westford,  Massachusetts,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  most  successful  teachers  in  the  vicinity. 

William  D.  Smith,  v\ho  married  Ellen  Buck,  of  Northampton,  where 
they  reside.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children :  Nellie, 
Mary,  Fred,  Hattie,  Henry.     Fred  is  deceased. 

George  A.  Smith,  who  with  his  two  children  reside  in  Preston,  New 
York.     The  names  of  the  children  are  Charles  and  Burton. 

Charles  S.  Smith,  who  married  Catherine  Bennett,  of  Becket,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Their  children  are:  Nettie,  Leroy,  Charles, 
Julia  and  Blanche. 

Elizabeth  Smith,  who  became  the  wife  of  Lester  Parker,  of  Plain- 
field,  Massachusetts,  and  their  family  consists  of  two  children — Eugene 
and  Harriet. 

Harriet  A.  Smith,  who  became  the  wife  of  Edward  P.  Eldredge, 
of  Ashfield,  and  the  issue  of  this  union  was  one  daughter,  Ruth. 

Maria  W.  Smith,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  251 

Man'  ]\.T.  Smith,  who  became  the  wife  of  Silas  Stockwell.  of  Dalton. 
no  issue. 

Frank  vSmilh,  who  married  Ehzabeth  Burnett,  and  they  are  at  pres- 
ent Hving  in  Cumming-ton,  Massachusetts.     No  children. 

John  D.  Smith,  the  second  of  the  thirteen  children  born  to  Asa  and 
Sarah  L.  Smith,  was  six  years  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Dal- 
ton, Berkshire  county.  He  attended  school  for  a  short  period  of  time 
during  his  first  five  years'  residence  in  Dalton,  but  was  soon  utilized  by 
his  father  in  the  wood  business  which  he  conducted  in  connection  with 
the  operation  of  a  farm  in  the  locality  known  as  Goosebill,  the  family 
having  given  that  name  to  the  place.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
was  apprer.ticed  to  the  carpenter  and  machinist  trades,  serving  for  four 
years.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  millwright,  and  the  greater  part  of 
his  business  career  was  devoted  to  that  occupation.  He  was  employed 
by  the  Byron  Weston  Com.pany  in  Dalton,  Massachusetts,  for  eighteen 
consecutive  years.  He  has  served  the  county  as  a  deputy  sheriff  for 
five  terms,  and  as  constable  in  the  township  for  ten  years.  His  religious 
views  are  in  accord  with  those  adopted  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  his  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Republican  party.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  K,  Tliirty-fourth  Regiment,  Massachusetts 
Infantry,  from  Dalton,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  coi'poral 
in  the  company.  He  participated  in  seventeen  battles  and  skirmishes, 
the  most  severe  having  been  the  battle  of  Fort  Gregg  on  April  2,  1865. 
In  i860  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Lucy  E.  Adams,  of  Landesfield, 
Massachusetts,  who  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Smith  now  makes  his  home 
W"ith  his  sister,  Mrs.  Sarah  Bardin,  of  Dalton,  Massachusetts. 


252  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

JOHN  McAllister  stevenson. 

Few  men  in  Berkshire  county  have  developed  a  greater  capacity 
for  hard  work  or  a  more  capably  helpful  spirit  in  important  and  diverse 
public  relations  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these 
memoirs.  Although  not  to  the  manor  born,  he  has  won  recognition  as 
one  of  the  most  valuable  citizens  of  the  county  seat.  He  was  born  in 
Cambridge,  Washington  county,  New  York,  August  31,  1846,  son  of 
the  late  John  M.  and  Seraph  Huldah  (Newton)  Stevenson,  the  former 
also  a  native  of  Cambridge,  the  latter  of  Marlboro,  Vermont. 

The  late  John  M.  Stevenson  Avas  a  son  of  William  Stevenson,  who 
was  born  in  1771,  in  Stranrear,  near  Glasgow,  Scotland,  whence  he 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1795,  locating  in  Cambridge,  New  York, 
where  he  eventually  became  a  leading  merchant.  He  was  thrice  mar- 
ried, his  second  wife  having  been  Frances  Wardale  McAllister,  a  daugh- 
ter of  a  well  known  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  John  McAllister. 

Of  the  children  of  William  and  Frances  Wardale  (McAllister) 
Stevenson,  John  McAllister  Stevenson  (i),  born  October  22,  1818,  was 
graduated  from  Union  College,  class  of  1839,  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  devoted  his  time  largely  to  the 
management  of  his  father's  and  his  own  personal  estate.  Originally 
an  old  line  Whig  he  assisted  in  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  remained  stalwart  in  his  devotion  to  its  principles,  and  contributing 
tO'  the  extent  of  his  ability  to  its  success  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  September  8,  1872.  Of  his  children,  Holland  New- 
ton Stevenson  is  Commodore  (retired).  United  States  navy;  Jean  H. 
(Stevenson)  March,  is  the  widow  of  Daniel  March,  Jr.,  late  of  Win- 
chester, Massachusetts;  Frances  Wardale  Stevenson  married  Charles  Y. 
Beach,  and  died  in  October,  1904;  Sarah  Mary  Stevenson  married  De- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  253 

Witt  Bruce,  of  Pittsfield,  and  died  December  i,  1905;  \\'illiam  Chipman 
Stevenson  is  associated  with  his  brother,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
sketch,  in  the  fire  insurance  business  at  Pittsfield;  EHza  A.  is  the 
widow  of  the  late  John  P.  Lane;  Edward  P.  Stevenson  is  a  resident 
of  Lee,  Massachusetts,  and  treasurer  of  the  Mountain  Mill  Paper  Com- 
pany, East  Lee;  and  McLaren  Stevenson,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Seraph  Huldah  (Newton)  Stevenson,  born  in  Marlboro,  Ver- 
mont, August  6,  1823,  and  now  a  resident  of  Pittsfield,  is  a  daughter 
of  Ephraim  Holland  and  Huldah  (Chipman)  Newton,  and  a  lineal  de- 
scendant in  the  maternal  line  of  John  Howland,  one  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  and  a  signer  of  the  Mayflower  compact.  Among  her  ancestors 
in  the  maternal  line,  also,  was  Thomas  Chipman.  who  lived  in  Shef- 
field. Berkshire  county,  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  served  in 
the  patriot  army,  as  did  his  son,  Timothy  Fuller  Chipman,  her  grand- 
father, in  the  campaign  against  General  Burgoyne.  On  her  father's  side 
she  is  descended  from  Marshall  Newton,  Jr.,  of  Shrewsbury,  Massa- 
chusetts, a  soldier  in  the  patriot  army  during  nearly  the  entire  period 
of  that  protracted  stiiiggle  for  independence.  His  father,  also  Mar- 
shall Newton,  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  render- 
ing efficient  service  during  the  campaign  which  embraced  the  battle  of 
Lake  George. 

John  McAllister  Stevenson,  second  of  the  children  of  Juhn  M.  and 
Seraph  H.  (Newton)  Stevenson,  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  Cambridge  Washington  Academy,  Walnut  Hill  School, 
Geneva,  New  York,  and  Phillips  Academy.  Andover,  Massachusetts, 
from  which  last  named  institution  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1865.  He  then  entered  Yale  College,  class  of  1869.  remaining  there 
but  two  years,  his  completion  of  the  full  four  years'  course  being  pre- 
vented bv   ill  health.      He  was  thereafter  at  his  home   in    Cambridge, 


^54  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

incidentally  assisting  his  father  in  the  care  of  diiTerent  business  inter- 
ests, one  of  which  was  a  planing  mill  and  lumber  plant  at  that  place, 
until  the  winter  of  1872,  during  which  time  he  was  in  the  office  employ 
of  George  L^w,  capitalist,  of  New  York. 

In  September,  1872,  he  came  to  Pittsfield  to  accept  a  position  in 
the  Pittsfield  office  of  David  W.  Bartlett,  g-eneral  agent  of  the  Phoenix 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  the  office 
being  located  in  the  West  Block,  with  those  occupied  by  the  firm  of 
Gilmore  &  Francis.  This  connection  continued  until  January  i,  1874, 
when  Mr.  Stevenson  accepted  a  clerical  position  with  Tillotson  &  Col- 
lins, manufacturers  of  woolens,  and  remained  in  their  employ  until 
October  i,  1876.  He  then  re-entered  the  insurance  business  as  clerk 
for  Captain  Fred  A.  Francis,  successor  of  Gilmore  &  Francis.  In  April, 
1877,  he  entered  intO'  partnership  association  with  George  D.  Button 
to  purchase  and  conduct,  under  the  firm  name  of  Stevenson  and  But- 
ton, the  insurance  agency  business  last  mentioned.  Mr.  Stevenson  sub- 
sequently purchased  his  partner's  interest,  and  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged therein,  for  a  period  with  Thomas  N.  Enright,  and  latterly  in 
connection  with  his  brother,  William  Chipman  Stevenson,  and  Will- 
iam C.  Moulton,  with  offices  in  the  Savings  Bank  Building,  which  oc- 
cupies the  site  of  the  old  block  in  which  he  began  his  business  career 
in  Pittsfield,  being  now  conducted  under  the  name  of  Stevenson  &  Com- 
pany. 

On  September  29,  1879,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  elected  to  the  position 
he  has  since  held,  O'f  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Berkshire  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company,  a  local  institution,  that  has  grown  more  sub- 
stantial with  its  growing  responsibilities  and  constantly  widening 
sphere  of  usefulness.  To  advancing  the  interests  of  this  old  Berkshire 
institution  he  has  given  his  time,  his  energy  and  constant  thought.    Un- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  255 

der  his  administration  he  has  seen  it  grow  from  a  company  having- 
$4,500,000  at  risk  to  one  oi  over  $11,000,000.  A  purely  mutual  organ- 
ization, it  has  maintained  its  record  of  ahvays  returning  a  dividend  to 
its  members. 

Since  April  10,  1882,  he  has  been  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  Pro- 
prietors of  the  Pittsfield  Cemetery.  During  his  term  of  office  the  ceme- 
tery has  been  enlarged,  the  gateway  and  Clapp  Memorial  Chapel  erected, 
and  many  other  improvements  made.  The  laying  out  of  streets  and 
sale  of  building  lots  on  the  land  owned  by  the  corporation  adjacent  to 
Onota  street  has  been  done  largely  under  his  personal  supervision. 

October  13,  1890,  Mr.  Stevenson  was  elected  clerk  of  the  Pittsfield 
Electric  Street  Railway  Company,  and  since  1892  has  also  been  on  its 
board  of  directors,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  promotion  of  its  inter- 
ests. From  1883  to  1896  he  sen-ed  as  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  Pitts- 
field Board  of  Underwriters,  and  since  April  18,  1881,  as  clerk  of  the 
First  Congregational  parish,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Stevenson's  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  institutions  which 
he  has  served  as  secretary  or  clerk  may  gathered  from  the  rather  re- 
markable fact,  that  during  all  these  years  he  has  never  missed  a  meet- 
ing where  his  presence  was  officially  required. 

Politically  he  has  always  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party,  and 
is  an  ardent  champion  of  its  interests.  His  only  political  office  was  as 
member  of  the  general  court,  to  which  he  was  elected  Februai-y  9,  1895, 
tO'  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  decease  of  E.  H.  Robbins,  and  to  whicli 
office  he  was  returned  by  election  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  other 
institutions  with  which  he  is  and  has  been  connected  are  numerous. 
He  is  a  member  and  w^as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Pittsfield  branch  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association;  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Park  Club,  and  for  twelve  years  a  member  of  its  executive 


256  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

committee;  is  one  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Berkshire  County  Sav- 
ings Bank  since  May  3,  1882;  he  is  a  member  and  was  for  a  period 
president  of  the  Pittsfield  Rod  and  Gun  Club,  and  takes  especial  pride 
in  having  been  considered  qualified  to  be  a  member  of  its  rifle  team. 
He  is  trustee  of  the  Union  for  Home  Work,  and.  for  a  number  of  years 
was  a  member  and  treasurer  of  its  board  of  managers.  He  has  filled 
the  office  of  auditor  for  the  Berkshire  County  Home  for  Aged  Women 
since  its  organization;  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Berkshire 
County  Chapter  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  for  two 
years  held  the  office  of  president;  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Society  of  Mayflower  Descendants.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Union  since  1879,  and  is  now 
one  of  its  vice-presidents. 

Reading  between  the  lines  it  will  be  readily  gathered  that  Mr. 
Stevenson  is  O'f  a  type  that  stands  for  progress — a  valued,  valuable 
citizen. 

Mr.  Stevenson  married,  January  27,  1880,  Hattie,  daughter  of  the 
late  Samuel  Mather  Cooley  and  Almira  L.  (Tillotson)  Cooley,  of  Pitts- 
field.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevenson  are:  John  McAllister 
Stevenson  (3d),  a  graduate  of  Yale,  class  of  1903,  now  with  the  Gen- 
eral Electric  Company;  Louis  Tillotson  Stevenson,  a  student  of  Yale, 
class  of  1906,  taking  the  Sheffield  Scientific  Course;  Holland  Newton 
Stevenson  (2d),  also  a  student  of  Yale,  class  of  1908,  taking  the  Shef- 
field Scientific  Course;  and  Clara  Cooley  Stevenson.  The  family  resi- 
dence is  No'.  28  Reed  street,  a  residential  street  which  has  been  im- 
proved and  laid  out  as  a  city  way  largely  through  Mr.  Stevenson's 
efforts. 


:'  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  257 

JOHN  FRANKLIN  NONON. 

An  able  attorney  and  an  efficient  and  trnstwortln-  puldic  servant, 
is  the  record  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  introcUices  this  narrative. 

He  was  born  in  Great  Barrington,  Berkshire  connty,  ^lassachnsetts, 
November  19,  1856.  son  of  the  late  John  David  and  Elizabeth  (New- 
man) Noxon,  the  tVirmer  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  the  latter 
of  Egremont,  Berkshire  connty,  INIassachnsetts. 

John  D.  Noxon.  bcjrn  Febrnar}-  4.  1820-.  located  in  earh-  manhood 
at  Great  Barringt')n.  where  he  established  a  blacksmith  and  wagon- 
making  business,  which  he  conducted  successfully  for  two  decades,  when 
he  retired  therefrom.  de\'oting  his  time  thereafter  to  the  improvement  of 
liis  realty  holdings,  during  this  periotl  contributing  in  a  most  substantial 
way  to  the  home  of  his  adoption  by  the  erection  of  a  numl)er  of  dwelling" 
houses.     He  died  in  September,  1900. 

John  Franklin  Noxon  read  hu\'  under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge 
Justin  Dewey,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September.  188 1.  He 
established  himself  f<:)r  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Pittsfield.  occu- 
pying offices  ^\•ith  the  late  A.  J.  Waterman,  a  leader  of  the  bar  in  western 
Massachusett''.  subsequently  attorney-general  of  the  commonwealth. 
January  i.  1895.  Mr.  Noxon  entered  into  partnership  re!ati(>ns  with 
John  C.  Crosby,  an  association  which,  under  the  firm  name  of  Crosby  & 
Noxon.  attained  a  very  large  and  notably  successful  practice.  The  part- 
nership was  dissolved  upon  the  elevation  of  ]\Ir.  Crosby  tO'  the  superior 
court  bench,  Mr.  Michael  Eisner  entering  the  firm,  wdiich  is  now-  known 
as  Noxon  &  Eisner.  Mr.  Noxon  served  as  city  solicitor  of  Pittsfield  in 
1896  and  1897,  and  was  elected  in  190 1  district  attorney  for  the  western 
district  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  re-elected  thereto  in  1904.  He  is  a 
member   of    Crescent    Lodge,    b'ree   and    Accepted    ]\Lisons;     Berkshire 


^58  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Chapter,  Rov'al  Arch  J\fasons;    Berkshire  Council,  and  Berkshire  Coni- 
mandery,  Kniolits  Tempkir. 

Mr.  Noxon  married,  April  17,  1890,  Mary  S.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Henry  B.  and  Electa  (Slosson)  Wadhanis,  of  Pittsfield.  The  late  Henry 
Wadhams  was  a  weh-kncwn  lumber  merchant  of  the  county  seat.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Noxon  have  a  son,  John  F.  Ncxon,  Jr. 

HON.  EDWARD  TINKER  SLOCUM. 

A  descendant  in  both  maternal  and  paternal  lines  from  English 
colonial  settlers  of  New  England,  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
these  memoirs  has  abundantly  evidenced  in  his  own  useful  and  honor- 
able career  the  value  of  a  heritage  of  devotion  to-  right  principles.  In 
his  prolonged  judicial  incumbency  Judge  Slocum  has  demonstrated  a 
capacity  for  public  service  and  a  reputation  for  official  integrity  that 
has  obtained  for  him  general  recognition  as  one  of  the  especially  valu- 
able citizens  of  Pittsfield. 

The  founder  of  the  Slocum  family  of  America,  Anthony  Slocumbe, 
was  one  of  the  first  purchasers  oi  Cohannet,  New  Plymouth  (now  Taun- 
ton, Massachusetts),  in  1637,  and  according  to  the  Slocum  genealogy, 
remo\'ed  to  that  part  of  New  Plymouth  which  was  incorporated  as 
Dartmouth  in  1664,  and  he  and  one  Ralph  Russell  were  first  settlers. 
He  married  a  sister  of  William  Harvey,  according  to  an  old  letter  writ- 
ten by  him.  His  name  appears  on  the  Taunton  records  from  1643,  ^^^~ 
quently  serving  in  official  capacities.  He  was  the  father  of  four  chil- 
dren.    The  first  was 

Giles  Slocumlie,  born  probably  in  Somersetshire,  England,  died  in 

Portsmouth,    Rhode  Island,    1682.      He  married  Joan  ,   who 

died  in  Portsmouth,  31st  day,  6th  month,   1679.     He  settled  in  Ports- 


'^c>Co(A:2^Y^dI^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  259 

mouth,  Rhode  Island,  probably  in  the  year  1638,  the  place  then  being 
called  Pocasset.  He  and  his  wife  were  early  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  in  whose  affairs  he  appears  to  have  been  prominent,  and  he 
became  an  extensive  land  owner.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children. 
The  ninth  w^as 

Eleazer  Slocum,  born  in  Portsmouth,  Rhode  Island,  25th  day,  loth 
month,  1664,  died  1727.  He  married  Elephel  Fitzgerald,  who  died  in 
1748.  He  became  a  resident  of  Portsmouth,  New  Plymouth,  in  1684. 
His  will  and  that  of  his  father  are  given  in  full  in  the  Slocum  genealogy. 
His  family  consisted  of  seven  children.     The  seventh  was 

Ebenezer  Slocum,  born  in  Dartniouth,  Massachusetts,  about  1705, 
married  in  Friends'  Meeting,  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  4th  day,  2d 
month,  1728,  Bathsheba  Hull,  daughter  of  Tristram  and  Elizabeth 
(Dyer)  Hull.  They  removed  from  Dartmouth  to  Tiverton,  Rhode 
Island,  before  1756,  and  were  there  living  in  1774,  with  a  household 
of  twenty-one  heads.  Bathsheba  was  fifth  in  descent  from  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Hull,  born  in  1594,  who  was  rector  of  Northleigh,  Devonshire, 
England,  and  the  first  minister  at  Weymouth,  in  1635.  The  son  and 
descendants  became  Friends.  Ebenezer  and  Bathsheba  Slocum  had 
twelve  children.     The  seventh  was 

David  Slocum,  born  in  or  near  Dartmouth.,  Massachusetts,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1740,  died  in  Tolland,  Massachusetts,  December  7,  tSi8. 
He  married,  in  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island,  Phebe  Manchester,  born  July 
21,  1743,  died  in  Tolland,  Massachusetts,  March  i,  1819,  daughter  of 
Godfrey  Manchester,  of  Tiverton.  David  Slocum  removed  to  Tiver- 
ton with  his  parents  before  1756,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Tolland,  Mas- 
sachusetts, about   1770.     They  had  seven  children.     The  second  was 

Eleazer  Slocum,  horn  in  Tiverton,  Rhode  Island,  May  27,  1768, 
died  in  Tollrmd,  Massachusetts,  November  17,  1834.     He  married  Mrs. 


260  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Lois  (Couch)  Stillman.  born  in  Sandisfeld,  Massachusetts,  June  i, 
1772,  daughter  of  Benoni  and  Phebe  (Miller)  Couch,  and  widow  of 
Captain  Stillman,  who  died  at  sea.  Mr.  Slocum  was  a  farmer  in  Tol- 
land, Massachusetts,  and  was  sheriff  of  the  county  for  several  years. 
He  was  the  father  of  seven  children.     The  second  was 

Oliver  Ellsworth  Slocum,  born  in  Tolland,  Massachusetts,  August 
16,  1 80 1,  died  March  7,  1884.  He  married,  in  Tolland,  in  1821,  Polly 
Mills,  born  May  17,  i8co,  died  March  7,  1883,  daughter  of  Cephas  and 
Hannah  (Easton)  Mills.  Cephas  Mills,  a  soldiev  of  the  revolution,  was 
a  lineal  descendant  of  Sir  Peter  Wales  Van  der  Mulen,  of  Holland,  who 
was  knighted  for  his  great  service  to  the  public  in  the  improvement  of 
the  dikes  and  canals  in  Amsterdam.  Sir  Peter's  eldest  son,  Peter  Van 
der  Mulen,  born  in  Amsterdam  in  1622,  came  to  America  in  165O'  from 
Leyden,  where  lie  was  studying  for  the  ministry.  The  immigrant's  son, 
Peter,  second  of  the  name  in  this  country,  married  Dorcas  Messenger, 
of  Windsor,  Connecticut,  and  died  May  18,  1688.  Their  son  Peter 
(3),  born  in  1663,  married  Joanna  Porter,  and  lived  in  East  Windsor 
until  his  death,  in  1756.  By  an  act  of  the  Connecticut  legislature  in 
1707  he  had  his  name  changed  from  Van  der  Mulen,  which  in  Dutch 
means  "The  Man  of  the  Mill,"  to  Mills.  His  son  Peter  Mills  (4),  a 
tailor  by  trade,  married  Ruth  Loomis,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  Stone  Mills,  son  of  Peter  and  Ruth,  married  Miriam  Wolcott.  a 
cousin  of  Governor  Wolcott,  of  Connecticut,  and  was  the  father  of 
Cephas  Mills  above  named.  Cephas  Mills  was  born  at  Ellington,  Con- 
necticut, June  17,  1759:  he  married,  March  23,  1778,  Hannah  Easton, 
who  was  born  at  Manchester,  Connecticut,  April  26,  1761.  and  in  1788 
they  removed  to  Tolland,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Slocum  lived  on  a  farm 
in  West  Granville,  Massachusetts,  and  was  an  early  abolitionist.  Mr. 
Slocum  was  the  father  of  eight  children.     The  first  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  261 

Hon.  William  Frederick  Slocum,  born  in  Tolland,  Massachusetts, 
January  31,  1822,  died  September  4,  1896.  After  his  graduation  from 
the  academy  in  Winsted,  Connecticut,  he  studied  law  with  Billings 
Palmer,  in  Sheffield,  Massachusetts,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Berkshire 
county  bar  in  Lenox,  then  the  shire  town,  in  October,  1846.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Grafton  from  1848  to  1865, 
when  he  removed  his  office  to  Boston  and  made  his  home  in  the  suburban 
city  of  Newton.  While  a  resident  of  Grafton  he  served  as  selectman  and 
school  committeeman,  and  represented  the  town  in  the  state  legislature 
in  1 86 1.  After  removing  to  Newton  he  was  trial  justice  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  During  a  portion  of  his  residence  in  Boston  he  was  the 
partner  of  H.  B.  Staples,  Esq.  In  187 1  ]\Ir.  Slocum  received  the  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Arts  from  Amherst  College.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church,  in  which  he  held  the  office  of  deacon.  A  sister 
of  Mr.  Slocum  was  the  wife  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Depue,  of  the  New 
Jersey  supreme  court. 

Hon.  William  Frederick  Slocum  married,  April  21,  1847,  Margaret 
Tinker,  born  in  Tolland,  July  4,  1827,  died  in  Newtonville,  January  25, 
1888,  daughter  of  Edward  Day  and  Laura  (Steele)  Tinker.  They  had 
four  children,  namely :  Winfield  Scott,  Edward  Tinker,  William  F., 
and  Henry  Oliver,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years.  All  are 
graduates  of  Amherst  College  save  the  last  named. 

The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the  Tinker  family  was  John  Tinker  (i), 
who  came  from  England.  Thomas  Tinker  and  his  wife  and  child  were 
passengers  on  the  "  Mayflower,"  and  all  died  during  the  first  winter 
after  landing  at  Plymouth.  John  Tinker  came  from'  England  a  few 
years  later,  and  settled  first  in  Windsor,  Connecticut,  was  made  a  free- 
man in  Boston  in  165.).,  and  was  afterward  town  clerk  and  selectman. 
In   1659  he  removed  to   Pequod,  now  New  London,   Connecticut,   and 


262  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

became  oue  of  the  most  active  and  influential  citizens  of  the  place.  His 
wife  Alice  died  at  Lyme,  Connecticut,  November  20,  1714,  aged  eighty- 
five  years.  Their  son  Amos,  born  October  28,  1657,  married,  at  Lyme, 
June  I,  1682,  Sarah  Durant.  Amos,  Jr.,  married,  January  17,  17 16, 
Lucy  Lee,  who  was  born  in  Lyme,  June  20,  1699.  Martin,  the  next  in 
line,  born  June  28,  1739,  at  Lyme,  married  Mrs.  Mary  Peck  and  was 
the  father  of  Edward  Lay  Tinker,  father  of  Margaret  (Tinker)  Slocum. 
Edward  Lay  Tinker  was  born  at  Westfield,  Massachusetts,  October  i, 
1791,  and  died  July  21,  1872.  He  married,  November  28,  1816,  Laura 
Steele,  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Steele,  who  was  born  in  Essex  county, 
England,  and,  on  coming  to  this  country  in  163 1,  settled  first  in  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  and  in  1635  became  one  of  the  founders  of  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut.  His  son,  James  Steele,  was  a  trooper  in  1657  in  the 
Pequot  war;  in  1662  he  was  appointed  by  the  general  court  to  lay  out 
lands  of  Hammanassett,  and  in  1675  was  commissary  in  King  Philip's 
war.  He  married  Anna  Bishop.  Their  son,  John  Steele,  married 
Malathiah,  daughter  of  Major  William  Bradford,  of  Plymouth.  Eben- 
ezer,  son  of  John,  born  in  1695,  married  Susan  West,  and  removed  in 
1725  to  Killingsworth.  John  (2),  son  of  Ebenezer,  was  the  father  of 
Ebenezer,  born  August  5,  1753,  who  married  Rachel  Seymour,  and  died 
November  8,  1805.  They  were  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Luara  Steele  Tinker. 
Judge  Edward  Tinker  Slocum  was  born  in  Grafton,  Massachusetts, 
October  29,  1849.  ^^  graduated  at  Amherst  College  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1871,  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
that  college  in  1874,  and  the  same  year  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws  from  Boston  University  Law  School.  In  the  mean- 
time he  was  engaged  in  civil  engineering  along  railway  lines,  and  in 
teaching  the  high  school  in  Upton,  Massachusetts.  In  early  manhood 
he  served  three  years  in  the  State  Militia.     He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  263 

at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  December  24,  1874,  and  after  practicing- 
law  for  three  years  in  Boston  removed  to  Lee,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
remained  until  1881,  when  he  came  to  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  In 
1 881  he  was  elected  register  of  probate  and  insolvency  of  Berkshire 
county,  which  office  he  held  for  fourteen  years,  when  in  December, 
1894,  he  was  appointed  judge  x^f  the  same  courts,  a  life  office.  Judge 
Slocum  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  movement  for  the  adoption  of  a 
city  charter  for  Pittsfield,  and  was  elected  president  of  the  first  council 
under  city  government,  although  the  political  majority  of  the  board  was 
against  him.  He  was  president  of  the  Berkshire  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion from  1903  to  1905,  and  is  a  memher  of  the  National  Bar  Associa- 
tion. Judge  Slocum  was  appointed  to  represent  the  First  Congressional 
District  of  Massachusetts  as  a  delegate  to  the  Universal  Congress  of 
Lawyers  and  Jurists,  one  of  the  unique  features  of  the  St.  Louis  World's 
Fair,  1904.  He  has  done  much  acti\-e  work  in  religious  and  charitable 
organizations,  as  well  as  in  civic  affairs.  From  1886  to  1894  he  was 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  of  the  First  Congregational  church ; 
for  five  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  ]Massa- 
chusetts  State  Sunday  School  Association ;  and  he  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He  was  made  a  Ma- 
son at  Lee,  and  admitted  to  Crescent  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
of  Pittsfield,  and  is  a  member  also'  of  Berkshire  County  Chapter,  Berk- 
shire Commandery,  and  Aleppo  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  For  four 
years  he  was  president  of  the  Business  Men's  Association,  now  the  Park 
Club,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Pittsfield  Country  ("lub  and  the  Berkshire 
Automobile  Club.  He  also  holds  membership  in  the  Sons  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  He  has  always  taken  interest  in  athletics,  especially 
in  acjuatic  sports,  yachting  and'  rowing,  hunting  and  fishing,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  various  local  organizations  of  that  character. 


264  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Judge  Edward  Tinker  Slocum  married,  August  3,  1881,  Harriet 
Olivia  Palmer,  daughter  of  Billings  and  Harriet  Davis  (Holbrook) 
Palmer,  of  Great  Barrington,  Massachusetts.  Billings  Palmer  was  a 
prominent  attorney  of  Great  Barrington,  and  for  some  time  a  member  of 
the  house  of  representatives  and  of  the  state  senate. 

Mrs.  Slocum  is  a  graduate  of  Vassar  College,  and  prior  to  her 
marriage  was  assistant  lady  principal  of  that  institution.  Judge  and  Mrs. 
Slocum  are  members  of  the  First  Congregational  church.  Judge  Slocum 
nimibers  among  his  ancestors  Governor  AX^illiam  Bradford,  Mary  Dyer, 
the  Quaker  martyr,  and  such  early  colonial  families  as  the  Wolcotts,  of 
Connecticut,  the  Pitkins,  the  Allyns,  Milles,  Eastons,  and  Hulls. 

WILLIAM  B.  McNULTY. 

That  the  subject  of  this  memoir  spent  practically  his  entire  busi- 
ness life  in  the  employ  of  one  company,  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad, 
is  a  sufficient  commentary  on  his  ability,  industry  and  integrity,  and  the 
fact  that  this  career  was  a  series  of  speedily  won  promotions  leads  to 
the  inevitable  conclusion  that  his  untimely  demise  alone  prevented  his 
attainment  to  large  responsibilities  in  his  chosen  vocation. 

He  was  a  Berkshire  county  boy,  born  in  1867  ^^  Dalton,  whence 
his  parents  removed  in  his  early  childhood  to  Adams,  where  William 
received  a  public  school  education  and  was  for  a  short  time  thereafter  in 
employ  at  Millard's  news  room. 

This  was  followed  by  his  appointment  as  baggage  master  at  Ren- 
frew Station.  In  1893  l""^  ^'^"^^  made  station  agent  at  Renfrew.  He  was 
next  promoted  to  the  charge  of  the  station  at  Niversville,  and  one  year 
later  was  transferred  to  the  company's  station  at  Hudson,  New  York, 
following  which  he  took  the  North  Adams  office.     Since  1903  he  has 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  265 

occupied  the  office  of  station  agent  at  Pittsfield,  where  he  died  suddenly 
on  October  ii,  1905. 

PoHtically  Mr.  McNuUy  affiHated  with  the  Democratic  party. 

He  had  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  was  held  in  especially  affection- 
ate esteem  by  the  fellow  employees  under  his  management. 

ROLLIN  H.  COOKE. 

Rollin  Hillyer  Cooke,  widely  famed  as  a  genealogist  and  litterateur, 
was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  Winsted,  in  1843.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  entered  upon  a  business 
career  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  his  father,  who  was  a  manufacturer 
in  that  place  O'f  wagon  axles,  nuts,  bolts,  etc.  At  a  later  day  he  became 
a  clerk  in  the  private  banking  house  of  Gilbert  &  Gay,  in  Winsted.  While 
residing  in  that  village  he  married,  and  of  his  marriage  were  born  two 
children,  both  of  whom  survived  the  father:  Mrs.  James  Brasie,  of 
Winsted,  Connecticut;  and  IMrs.  George  D.  Hurlock,  of  New  York.  His 
second  marriage  was  tO'  Rose  Terry  Cooke,  a  pleasing  writer  of  both 
poetry  and  prose,  and  this  event  gave  a  different  direction  to  the  life  of 
the  husband. 

Learning  of  an  opening  for  a  banking  Imsiness  in  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  having  had  experience  in  that  line,  Mr.  Cooke  inclined  to 
locating  in  that  city,  and  his  purpose  was  seconded  with  genuine  enthus- 
ia,sm  by  his  wife,  whose  artistic  temperament  made  her  an  ardent  ad- 
mirer of  the  scenery  of  the  Berkshires.  U|)on  first  coming  tO'  the  city, 
Mr.  Cooke  became  associated  with  J^'^mes  j\I.  Burns  in  the  banking  firm 
O'f  Burns  &  Cooke.  They  continued  in  this  business  about  a  year,  when 
Mr.  Burns  withdrew,  ]\Ir.  Cooke  remaining  as  sole  manager.  Shortly 
afterward,  however,  he  abandoned  the  Imsiness  to  de^•ote  himself  ex- 


266  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

clusively  to  genealogical  and  kindred  research,  fields  in  which  he  made 
for  himself  high  reputation  and  contributed  materially  to  the  fund  of 
knowledge  along  these  lines.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his  investiga- 
tions, and  not  only  made  familiar  acquaintance  with  record  material  in 
the  court  house  of  Berkshire  county  and  the  Berkshire  Athenaeum,  but 
repeatedly  visited  distant  cities  in  his  search  for  missing  links  in  fam- 
ily chains,  and  his  services  were  called  into  requisition  by  people  of 
standing  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  scarcely  a  day  passing  but  he 
received  inquiries  for  information,  or  solicitation  to  enter  upon  some 
special  genealogical  work.  About  a  year  before  his  death,  was  issued 
from  the  press  his  "  Genealogy  of  the  Phelps  Family,"  in  two  volumes. 
His  most  laborious  and  notable  undertaking  was  that  upon  which  he 
was  engaged  when  he  came  to  his  tragic  end — the  ''  Genealogy  of  the 
Bradford  Family."  In  the  compilation  of  this  monumental  work  he 
had  obtained  ten  thousand  names  of  descendants  of  the  original 
Bradford,  and  their  proper  arrangement  and  relation  involved  incessant 
and  most  painstaking  effort.  At  the  same  time  he  was  giving  editorial 
direction  to  the  preparation  of  our  present  volumes,  "  Historic  Homes 
and  Institutions  and  Genealogical  and  Personal  Memoirs  of  Berkshire 
County,  Massachusetts,"  and  writing  a  portion  of  their  contents.  That 
he  was  not  permitted  to  bring  to  a  conclusion  either  of  these  works  is 
to  be  deeply  regretted,  and  by  none  more  than  by  the  publishers  of  that 
last  mentioned,  who  treasure  his  memory  as  not  only  a  careful  and  use- 
ful collaborator,  but  a  sincere  personal  friend.  That  his  labors  along 
these  his  chosen  lines  were  labors  of  love,  is  amply  attested  not  alone  by 
the  enthusiasm  with  which  he  responded  to  every  call,  but  by  the  dis- 
position he  made  of  his  genealogical  and  historical  memorabilia.  Real- 
izing the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  determined  to  place  these  accumulations 
of  a  lifetime  beyond  the  possibility  of  dispersion,  a  little  more  than  a 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  267 

year  before  his  death  (October  15,  1903),  Mr.  Cooke  presented  to  the 
Berkshire  Athenaeum  his  most  vakiable  records,  accompanying  his  gift 
with  a  letter  in  which  he  said  that  it  was  his  design  that  it  should  cover 
all  of  his  papers  and  records,  reserving  the  possession  and  use  of  them 
during  his  lifetime. 

Mr.  Cooke's  published  letters  and  articles  upon  special  topics  would 
fill  a  good  sized  volume.  He  was  also  author  of  a  handsome  brochure 
issued  by  the  Berkshire  Life  Insurance  Company,  "  Rides  and  Drives  in 
Berkshire."  He  was  an  enthusiastic  lover  of  nature,  and  the  beautiful 
scenery  of  this  region  had  no  more  enthusiastic  admirer  than  he.  He 
was  the  most  noted  pedestrian  in  Pittsfield,  covering  long  distances  with- 
out apparent  fatigue,  his  walks  frequently  extending  to  his  old  home  at 
Winsted,  Connecticut,  as  well  as  tO'  Norfolk  and  Canaan.  Greylock 
Mountain  was  a  constant  source  of  pleasure  to  him.  When  winter  be- 
gan to  die  and  the  snows  tO'  melt  away,  he  would  set  off  for  the  summit 
of  "  the  great  hill,"  and  when  he  returned  he  invariably  had  a  pleasant 
story  to  tell  of  his  trip.  Strange  markings  upon  the  mountain  side  were 
to  him  full  of  suggestion  and  interest,  and  as  a  naturalist  he  found  much 
pleasure  in  identifying  animals  and  birds  by  their  footprints.  It  often 
occurred  that  he  conducted  parties  on  trips  up  the  mountain  to  see  the 
sun  rise,  and  on  such  occasions  his  good  comradeship  was  manifested  at 
its  best.  Before  others  took  much  interest  in  Gre}dock  Mountain,  he 
blazed  a  way  to  its  summit,  and  many  of  the  subsequent  improvements 
upon  the  reservation  were  directly  traceable  to  his  unflagging  interest, 
enthusiasm  and  suggestion.  He  knew  the  needs  of  the  mountain,  and 
he  wrote  of  them  frequently,  sometimes  over  his  own  proper  signature, 
and  again  under  a  nom  de  plume.  His  interest  in  historical  subjects 
also  led  him  into  arduous  explorations,  and  he  was  recognized  along 
these  lines  as  the  most  eminently  useful  member  of  the  local  chapter  of 


268  BERKSHIRE  CO  UN  TY 

the  Sons  of  the  American  Revohition.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Berkshire 
Chapter,  Sons  of  the  American  Revohition,  held  within  a  week  hefore 
his  death,  he  urged  that  the  site  of  Easton's  Tavern  shoiihl  be  in  some 
way  indicated  for  the  benefit  of  future  generations.  In  his  journeyings 
through  the  county  on  his  errands  of  investigation,  he  made  a  rare  col- 
lection of  singular  inscriptions  upon  old  gravestones,  many  of  them  so 
nearly  obliterated  by  the  elements  that  their  deciphering  involved  much 
time  and  patience. 

During  his  residence  in  Pittsfield,  Mr.  Cooke  performed  efficient 
service  in  connection  with  various  institutions  and  enterprises.  Besides 
the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  he  was  one  of  the  best  ec[uipped 
and  most  active  members  of  the  Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  So- 
ciety, the  Monday  Evening  Club  and  other  organizations,  and  in  the 
palmy  days  of  its  existence  he  was  secretai-y  of  the  Berkshire  County 
Agricultural  Society.  He  it  was  who  installed  the  index  system,  so- 
called,  w'hich  from  that  day  has  been  used  with  excellent  success  in 
connection  with  local  records.  He  remarked  shortly  before  his  death 
that  the  system  so  long  used  by  him  had  just  been  copyrighted,  and 
said,  "I  should  have  done  the  same  thing;  I  might  be  rich  now  if  I 
had."  But  he  gave  little  thought  to  money-making.  His  occupations 
were  tO'  him  fertile  fields  for  labor  wdiich  should  have  enduring  value, 
for  the  good  they  would  yield  to  others,  not  the  compensation  which 
would  accrue  to  him. 

He  was  an  ardent  Republican  his  life  through,  was  at  one  time  sec- 
retary of  the  city  committee  of  his  party,  and  performed  a  great  deal  of 
efficient  service  in  the  party  ranks.  To  him  the  party  represented  much 
more  than  a  mere  name.  He  revered  it  for  its  principles  and  its  tradi- 
tions. His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  the  second  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  whose  memory  he  held  in  love  and  honor  for  his 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  269 

personal  lofty  character,  his  martyrdom,  as  well  as  for  the  noble  princi- 
ples for  which  he  stood,  lived  and  died.  His  last  presidential  vote  was 
for  Theodore  Roosevelt,  whom  he  ardently  admired,  regarding  him  as 
one  of  the  greatest  products  of  his  generation. 

Mr.  Cooke  was  in  every  fibre  of  his  being  a  model  Christian  gentle- 
man. He  detested  shams,  and  with  the  lance  of  his  good-natured  sar- 
casm would  pierce  the  shield  of  pretence  and  unreality.  He  was,  how- 
ever, abundant  in  charity,  and  was  wont  to  say  that  the  perfect  man 
does  not  exist  on  earth.  Such  a  one,  he  declared,  would  be  so  lonesome 
that  he  would  needs  be  relegated  to  a  settlement  of  which  he  was  the 
sole  inhabitant.  He  possessed  a  fine  literary  taste,  and  his  excellent 
library,  containing  many  rare  volumes,  was  his  most  delightful  resort. 
He  delighted  in  good  fellowship,  and  enjoyed  sitting  by  the  hour  with' 
congenial  spirits,  discussing  current  topics,  old  tales  and  old  poems.  His 
mind,  alert  and  keen,  was  C[uick  to  grasp  and  hold  the  meaning-  of  the 
beautiful  and  true.  His  humor  was  bright  and  sparkling.  He  enjoyed 
a  pointed  Ixit  clean  story,  and,  like  a  true  artist,  could  give  one  a  clever 
telling.  He  was  quick  to  discern  an  opening  for  a  pun.  and  was  an 
adept  in  such  wit. 

Until  the  death  of  his  second  wife  (Rose  Terry  Cooke)  ab(3ut  ele\'en 
years  ago,  the  couple  occupied  the  Brewster  house  on  East  street,  in 
Pittsfield.  After  her  death  he  occupied  apartments  in  the  ]\Iartin  Block, 
on  Bank  Row,  and  later  in  the  Wendell  annex  on  West  street,  where 
he  sustained  the  injuries  that  resulted  in  his  death,  in  the  evening  of 
Friday,  December  9,  1904.  Clad  only  in  his  underclothes,  al)laze  from 
head  to  foot,  and  crying  piteously  for  help,  he  was  found  b_\'  those  at- 
tracted by  his  cries,  in  the  hallway  in  front  of  his  room,  and  before 
assistance  could  be  rendered  was  so  severely  burned  that  he  died  about 
midnight  at  the  House  of  Mercy,  to  which  institution  lie  was  hurriedly 


270  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

removed.  Just  how  the  accident  occurred  is  not  known,  but  the  pre- 
sumption was  that  as  he  was  about  to  retire  a  kerosene  lamp  exploded, 
scattering  the  burning  oil  over  his  garments,  wrapping  him  in  a  sheet 
O'f  flame,  and  practically  burning  the  skin  from  off  his  entire  body.  His 
anguish  was  so  unsupportable  that  he  kept  feebly  saying  to  the  physician 
who  was  endeavoring  to  alleviate  his  sufferings,  "  Please  let  me  die." 

The  funeral  services  were  held  on  Monday.  December  12,  1904, 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  T.  W.  Nickerson,  Jr.,  rector  of  St.  Stephen's 
(Protestant  Episcopal)  church,  of  which  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  communi- 
cant. 

CHARLES  DWIGHT  SABIN. 

Youngest  of  the  six  children  of  the  late  Dr.  Sabin,  of  Williams- 
town,  is  Charles  Dwight  Sabin,  born  at  Williamstown,  July  22,  1849. 
He  received  his  initial  schooling  under  Professor  Griffin,  then  taking 
an  academic  course  at  Greylock  Institute,  and  entering  Williams  Col- 
lege with  the  intention  of  eventually  studying  medicine. 

He  developed  business  ambition  along  mercantile  lines,  however, 
before  matriculation,  leaving  college  to  enter  the  employ  of  Miller  & 
Company,  commission  merchants,  82  Broadway,  New  York  city,  and 
subsequently  became  associated  with  McFarlane  &  Randell,  produce 
commission  merchants,  17  Front  street.  New  York.  Upon  the  retire- 
ment of  the  senior  member  of  the  latter  firm,  Mr.  Sabin  attained  to 
the  junior  partnership,  and  three  years  later  was  sole  proprietor  of  the 
business.  From  1881  to  1891  a  brother,  Henry  Sabin,  was  his  busi- 
ness associate.  Mr.  Sabin  is  a  member  of  the  Produce  Exchange,  and 
was  one  of  the  board  of  managers  during  the  erection  of  the  splendid 
structure  which  is  the  home  of  that  most  important  trade  institution  of 
the  metropolis.     Mr.   Sabin  served  for  six  years  as  member  and  first 


^n-: 


(^. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  271 

lieutenant  in  tlie  Twenty-second  Regiment  New  York  National  Guard. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  and  New  York  Athletic  Clubs, 
and  the  New  York  Chapter  of  Sons  of  American  Revolution. 

He  married,  September  i8,  1890,  Susie  G.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Henry  A.  Tilden,  a  brother  of  the  late  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  Democratic 
leader  and  statesman.  Mr.  Sabin  is  the  present  owner  of  Samuel  J. 
Tilden' s  farm  estate  at  Gramercy  Park. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sabin's  children  are  Elizabeth  T.,  born  October  9, 
1892,  and  Charles  D.  Sabin,  Jr.,  born  December  4,  1895.  The  New 
York  residence  of  the  family  is  175  W.  58th  street,  and  the  summer 
home  on  South  street,  Pittsfield.  Mrs.  Sabin  is  a  member  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  Colonial  Dames,  and  the 
Mayflower  Association. 

GEORGE  WINSLOW  CLARK. 

The  traveling  public  has  long  since  learned  that  there  is  no  surer 
index  of  the  prosperity  of  a  community  than  the  character  and  conduct 
of  its  principal  hostelries.  Given  a  center  of  population,  great  or  small, 
whose  hotels  are  devoid  of  attractiveness  and  that  place  will  invariably 
be  discovered  to  be  in  a  state  of  business  apathy.  On  the  other  hand 
such  towns  as  have  their  visitors  well  cared  for  are  characterized  by  a 
general  progressiveness.  It  follows  therefore  that  the  up-to-date  land- 
lord is  an  important  factor  in  civilization.  To  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  these  memoirs  is  due  no  inconsiderable  measure  of  the 
credit  for  the  substantial  growth  of  Pittsfield  during  recent  years.  As 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Plumb  and  Clark,  proprietors  of  the  New  Amer- 
ican, Mr.  Clark's  managerial  capacity  has  been  eminently  of  the  type 
that  stands  for  progress. 


272  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Mr.  Clark  is  a  product  of  that  sturdy  stock,  the  physical  and  mental 
A'igor  of  which  proved  ahundantly  equal  to  the  stalwart  stand  which  it 
took  against  the  tyranny  of  the  Old  and  built  up  the  magnificent  cluster 
of  commonwealths  which  constitute  the  New'  Engdand.  He  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  fourth  of  the  generations  of  the  Clark  family  to  hold 
residence  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  his  paternal  great-grand- 
father, Samuel  Clark,  a  native  of  Haddam,  Connecticut,  having  located 
upon  a  small  farm  in  Lenox  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago.  Sam- 
uel Clark  was  a  revolutionary  soldier  and  was  one  of  the  patriot  pris- 
oners who  while  confined  in  the  "  Old  Sugar  House "  in  New  York 
city  were  poisoned  through  drinking  the  water  from  the  well  at  their 
place  of  confinement.  Whether  a  dastard  attempt  to  kill  these  prisoners 
by  dropping  poison  into  the  well  which  supplied  them  was  really  made 
or  the  water  \\'as  thus  contaminated  through  other  causes  is  a  mooted 
question.  Certain  it  is,  however,  that  a  number  of  victim.s  perished  as 
a  result  of  a  diabolical  deed  or  ecjually  criminal  neglect,  and  that  Samuel 
Clark  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life  and  suffered  a  seriously  impaired 
constitution  thereafter  in  consequence.  His  wife,  Hannay  Way,  was 
also  a  native  of  Haddam.  Among  their  children  was  Joseph  Rice  Clark, 
who  was  born  at  Tolland,  Connecticut,  conducted  a  wagon  making  estab- 
lishment in  Lenox,  subsequently  piuxhasing  a  farm  at  the  same  place, 
adjoining  that  formerly  owned  by  Henry  Ward  Beecher.  This  tract 
of  land  Mr.  Clark  continued  to  cultivate  for  a  g^i'iocl  of  fifty  years. 
He  died  February  6,  1875.  Llis  wife  was  Susan  Smith,  a  native  of  Lee, 
Massachusetts.  Joseph  Rice  Clark  was  sergeant  in  a  cavalry  company 
enlisted  for  service  in  the  war  of  18 12. 

His  son,  William  Marshall  Clark,  was  born  at  Lenox,  February 
12,  1823,  completed  his  education  at  Lenox  Academy  and  soon  there- 
after embarked   in  business  by   establishing  a  general  store  at   Lenox, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  :273 

which  lie  conducted  with  fair  success  up  to  the  historic  hard  times  of 
'57  when  he  was  compelled  to  ahandon  this  enterjirise.  He  was  there- 
after variously  employed  up  to  1878  when  he  located  at  Pittsfield. 
where  he  has  since  resided.  For  eighteen  years  continuous!}-  Air.  Clark 
has  discharged  most  efficiently  the  duties  of  the  office  of  assessor,  of 
which  he  is  still  the  incumhent.  He  is  a  true  gentleman  of  the  old 
school  of  unljlemishe'l  reputation,  a  man  of  unf[uestioned  prohity  and 
generally  recognized  usefulness.  He  married  in  1850  Irene,  daughter 
of  the  late  Ocran  Curtis,  of  Lenox,  Massachusetts.  (  See  Curtis  Fam- 
ily, this  puhlication.)  Of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Mar- 
shall Clark,  the  eldest  son,  \\'illiam  R.  Clark,  is  an  assistant  in  his 
father's  office,  and  Henry  S.  Clark,  the  youngest  son,  is  a  physician 
whose  general  education  was  completed  at  Williams  College,  who  was 
graduated  from  Jefferson  Medical  College  and  has  been  eng'aged  in  the 
successful  practice  of  his  profession  for  nearly  twenty  years  in  New 
York  city. 

Georg'e  W^inslow  Clark,  second  in  order  of  birth  of  the  sons  of 
William  M.  Clark,  was  born  at  Lenox,  May  16,  1854.  He  attended  the 
pu1)lic  schools  of  his  native  place  and  took  a  preparatory  course  at 
Lenox  Xcademy  for  the  scientific  course  at  Ann  Arbor.  Prei:)ared  for 
entrance  at  the  latter  institution,  in  1872,  he  de\'iated  from  the  plan 
which  he  iiad  formed  for  his  life  work  by  an  offer  of  employment  at 
a  tempting  salary  frcmi  the  Berkshire  Life  Insurance  Company  at  the 
official  home  of  that  great  local  institution  in  Pittsfield.  This  associa- 
tion continued  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years,  during  \\hich  time  Mr. 
Clark  was  promoted  from  time  to  time,  occup}-ing  the  position  of  cashier 
at  the  time  of  his  resignation  in  i88().  This  latter  ste])  was  taken  for 
the  purpose  of  entering  into  partnersliip  association  with  Mr.  Arthur 
W^.    Plumb    (see   sketch,   this   work)    to   conduct   the   American   House, 


274  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

at  Pittsfield.  the  good  will,  fixtures  and  furniture  of  which  were  pur- 
chased from  ]\lr.  Cebra  Ouackenbush,  former  proprietor  of  the  hotel 
and  then  and  still  owner  of  the  premises.  The  success  attendant  upon 
the  venture  of  Messrs.  Plumb  and  Clark  necessitated  the  material  en- 
largement and  general  improvement  of  the  original  structure,  and  the 
present  commodious  and  thoroughly  well-equipped  edifice,  since  known 
as  the  "  New  American,"  was  built  in  1898-9.  During  this  interim  the 
firm  of  Plumb  and  Clark  took  a  lease  of  the  Wendell  Hotel  and  con- 
ducted that  house  from  February  to  the  close  of  1899.  That  Mr.  Clark 
has  mastered  the  multitudinous  details  attendant  upon  the  successful 
conduct  of  the  modern  hotel  is  attested  by  the  popularity  of  the  New 
American  with  the  traveling  public  and  the  justifiable  pride  with  which 
it  is  regarded  by  the  citizens  of  Pittsfield  especially  and  the  people  of 
Berkshire  county  generally.  Mr.  Clark  married  in  1879  Fannie,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  William  Dexter  Brown  Linn,  for  many  years  a  dealer 
in  marble  and  monuments  at  Pittsfield. 

THEODORE  RODNEY  GLENTZ. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  one  of  that  fortunately  large  group 
of  men,  natives  of  Berkshire  county,  w^ho,  naturally  endowed  with 
capability,  courage  and  conscience,  wrought  within  its  borders  to  its 
splendid  development.  He  was  bom  in  1835,  son  of  George  F.  Glentz, 
one  of  the  early  merchants  of  Pittsfield,  who  died  in  1881. 

Theodore  R.  Glentz  received  a  limited  public  school  education,  and 
after  a  brief  period  of  employment  as  a  boy  in  one  of  the  woolen  mills 
of  Pittsfield  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  mas- 
tered it  readily  and  was  doing  journeyman's  work  and  receiving  jour- 
neyman's pay  while  yet  a  youth.     He  had  barely  attained  his  majority 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  275 

when,  in  association  with  Thomas  Atwoocl,  he  established  a  planing  mill 
business  on  North  street,  Pittsfield.  This  business  relation  was 
severed  a  few  years  later  upon  Mr.  Glentz's  removal  to  Vergennes,  Ver- 
mont, where  he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  for  a  short  period,  re- 
turning thence  to  renew  his  residence  in  Pittsfield,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  Butler  &  Aierrill,  planing  mill  proprietors. 

He  founded  a  planing  mill  and  contracting  and  building  business  in 
Pittsfield  in  1880,  and,  having  acquired  a  most  excellent  reputation  for 
skillful  workmanship  and  business  integrity,  was  speedily  possessed  of  a 
patronage  which  included  a  large  share  of  the  work  of  the  leading  invest- 
ors in  realty  improvements  in  the  county  seat  and  vicinity.  He  was 
always  the  interested  mechanic  given  to  burthen  himself  with  much  man- 
ual labor  in  showing  his  employees  right  methods,  the  while  bearing  as 
well  all  of  the  burdens  of  the  contractors'  responsibilities.  This  double 
duty  told  heavily  upon  him,  and  when  at  sixty-three  he  should  have  been 
in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood,  he  suffered  a  collapse  of  the  nervous  sys- 
tem and  a  few  years  later  died. 

He  had  little  time  or  taste  for  politics,  holding  office  but  once,  when 
he  was  elected  as  Republican  nominee  to  represent  the  third  ward  in 
Pittsfield's  board  of  aldermen.  He  was  a  lifelong  and  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  There  is  but  one  opinion  of 
Theodore  Rodney  Glentz,  viz. :  that  he  was  a  Christian  gentleman. 

He  married  Millicent,  daughter  of  the  late  Cyrus  Cleveland,  farmer, 
of  Dalton.  Mrs.  Glentz,  who  resides  in  Pittsfield,  had  three  children, 
one  of  whom,  the  eldest,  Olin  Glentz,  is  deceased.  The  surviving  chil- 
dren are  Bessie  G.,  wife  of  Fred  L.  Cheney,  lumber  dealer  of  Pittsfield ; 
and  Harley  C.  Glentz,  since  1902  engaged  in  a  managerial  capacity  with 
the  Glentz  Woodworking  Company. 


276  BERKSHTRE  COUNTY 

i 

THOMAS    WHITE    NTCKERSON,  Jr. 

The  gentleman  Avhose  name  introduces  these  memoirs,  rector  of 
St.  Stephen's,  Pittsfield.  has  demonstrated  his  eminent  fitness  for  his' 
high  calhng  by  the  aljimdant  success  of  his  ministrations,  the  parish 
being  in  a  most  flourishing  condition  and  a  recognized  vahiable  factor 
in  the  moral  uplift  of  the  community.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, January  25,  1858,  son  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  White  and  Martha 
Tillinghast  (Westcott)  Nickerson,  both  natives  of  Massachusetts,  and 
descended  from  the  earliest  English  settlers  of  New  England. 

The  founder  of  the  American  family  was  William  Nickerson,  born 
in  England,  in  1604,  and  who  came  from  Norwich  with  his  wife  and 
children  in  1637  to  the  American  colonies,  temporarily  locating  in 
Boston,  thence  removing  to  Yarmouth  and  eventually  settling  on  the 
present  site  of  the  town  of  Chatham,  ha\ing  purchased  there  from  the 
Indians  a  large  tract  of  land,  some  of  which  is  still  in  the  possession 
of  his  direct  descendants.  He  married  Anne  Busby,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Busby,  also  an  English  colonist,  resident  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. 

Nicholas  Nicker.son,  eldest  of  the  sons  of  William  and  Anne 
(Busby)  Nickersou,  was  born  in  Norwich.  England,  in  1630,  and  mar- 
ried Esther  Bassett,  w^iose  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cape 
Cod. 

Their  eldest  son,  William  Nickerson,  born  in  1658,  married  Mary 
Snow,  whose  ancestors  included  Governor  Prince  and  Stephen  Hop- 
kins, of  Mayflower  fame. 

Ebenezer  Nickerson.  third  son  of  the  last  mentioned  William 
Nickerson,  born  June  13,  1697,  married  Elizabeth  Mayo,  great-grand- 
daughter of  the  Rev.  John  Mayo,  the  first  minister  of  the  second  church 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  277 

established  in  Boston,  and  nunibering  among  her  Hneal  connections  those 
chstinguished  Pnritans,  John  Freeman,  Governor  Prince  and  Elder 
Brewster. 

Seth  Nickerson,  eldest  son  of  Ebenezer  Nickerson,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 21,  1737,  and  married  Mary  Smith,  of  Chatham,  also  descended 
from  Mayflower  stock. 

Their  son  Ebenezer  Nickerson,  grandfather  of  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  these  memoirs,  was  born  August  17,  1768,  in  Provincetown, 
Massachusetts,  and  married,  secondly,  September  29,  1805,  Eudoxa, 
daughter  of  Thomas  White,  of  Lexington-Concord  stock.  Ebenezer 
Nickerson  achieved  remarkable  business  success,  being  accounted  one 
of  the  leading  merchants  of  his  day  and  having  quite  extensive  shipping 
interests. 

His  son,  Rev.  Thomas  White  Nickerson,  a  retired  Episcopal  clergy- 
man, married  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Westcott,  a  leading"  leather  mer- 
chant. Stephen  Westcott  was  lineally  descended  from  Stukeley  West- 
cott, one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  in 
which  state  many  of  his  descendants  continue  to  reside.  The  direct  line 
from  Stukeley  to  Stephen  Westcott  is  through  Jeremiah,  Samuel,  Ben- 
jamin, Captain  James  and  James  Westcott.  The  wife  of  Stephen  West- 
cott, Mary  Smith  Barker,  was  of  old  colony  stock. 

Thomas  White  Nickerson,  Jr.,  received  his  preliminary  schooling  in 
Boston,  was  graduated  from  Phillips  Academy,  Ando'ver,  with  the  class 
of  'yf-),  and  from  Harvard  College,  class  of  '80.  He  then  entered  the 
General  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  New 
York  city,  graduating  in  1884,  and  receiving  his  B.D.  degree  therefrom 
in  1886.  He  was  ordained  deacon,  June  18,  1884,  in  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, by  Bishop  Paddock ;  and  ordained  priest  in  New  York  city.  May 
31,  1885,  by  Bishop  Henry  C.  Potter,      b'rom  September,  1884,  to  June, 


278  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

1887,  Mr.  Nickerson  was  assistant  to  the  rector  of  Calvary  church,  New 
York,  Dr.  Henry  Y.  Satterlee,  now  Bishop  of  Washington.    From  June, 
1887,  to  June,  1895,  he  was  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Paterson,  New  Jersey, 
and  this  initial  charge  developed  a  capacity  for  splendid  service.   He  early 
established  a  mission  (now  St.  Luke's),  and  upon  his  own  congregation 
growing  to  unwieldy  proportions  divided  the  parish,  thus  founding  the 
present  St.  Mark's  church.     During  his  ministry  a  new  church  site  was 
purchased  by  his  congregation,  and  the  initial  work  generally  accom- 
plished which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful  church 
edifices   in   New   Jersey.      His   next   charge   was  the  rectorship  of  the 
Church  of  the  Messiah,  Boston,  where  he  remained  from  1895  to  1898. 
In  the  spring  of  1900  he  was  secured  as  rector  of  St.  Stephen's,  Pitts- 
field,  which  he  has  since  served  as  heretofore  indicated  with  beneficent 
results   to  both   congregation   and   community.      He  has  taken  an   es- 
pecially active  interest  in  the  local  union  for  Home  Work  serving  as 
chairman  of  its  executive  committee.     He  is  secretary  of  the  standing 
committee  of  the  diocese  of  western  Massachusetts;  a  member  of  the 
Pittsfield  Monday  Evening  and  Park  Clubs,  and  of  the  Colonial  Wars 
and  Mayflower  Societies  of  Massachusetts. 

He  married,  January  10,  1888,  Mary  Louisa,  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  Eugene  Augustus  Hoffman,  the  distinguished  dean  of  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  One  son  born  of  this  union  Decem- 
ber 6,  1888,  Hoffman  Nickerson,  is  a  student  of  St.  Mark's  school, 
Southborough,  Massachusetts. 

JOHN  FORREST  KELLY. 

John  Forrest  Kelly,  of  Pittsfield,  who  has  materially  contributed  to 
electrical  science  and  its  applications,  is  a  type  of  those  foreign-born 
citizens  who  unite  with  the  steady  forceful  characteristics  of  their  an- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  270 

cestors  a  ready  adaptability  to  new  conditions,  a  well-directed  spirit  of 
enterprise,  and  an  unswerving-  lovalt}-  to  the  institutions  and  g-overnment 
cf  their  adopted  country.  He  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  most 
ancient  and  honorable  families  in  Ireland,  and  several  of  his  ancestors 
and  their  collateral  relatives  achieved  distinction  in  various  professional 
lines.  He  was  born  near  Carrick-on-Suir,  Ireland,  March  28.  1859,  '^ 
son  of  Jeremiah  and  Kate  (Forrest)  Kelly,  both  of  whom  served  in  the 
capacity  of  teachers. 

John  F.  Kell}-  received  the  degrees  of  B.L.  and  Ph.D.  in  1878  and 
188 1,  respectively,  from  Stevens  Institute  of  Technology  in  Hoboken, 
New  Jersey.  He  gained  his  first  practical  business  knowledge  as  assist- 
ant to  Thomas  .\.  Edison_  in  IMenlo  Park  laboratory,  his  work  then  prin- 
cipally relating  to  the  chemistry  of  rare  earths.  During  the  latter  part 
of  the  }-ear  1879  Mr.  Kelly  became  electrical  engineer  of  the  New  York 
branch  of  the  Western  Electric  Compan}',  this  being  the  time  when  the 
telephone  was  being  generally  introduced  and  when  dynamos  were  being 
first  applic^l  to  telegraphic  purposes.  In  the  construction  and  installment 
of  instruments  for  telegraphy  and  telephones  and  of  such  measuring  in- 
struments as  were  then  known,  lie  recei^•ed  a  thorough  training  which 
proved  valuable  to  him  in  his  later  career.  In  1882  he  became  lal)oratory 
assistant  to  Edwarrl  Weston,  then  chief  electrician  of  the  United  States 
Electric  Lighting  Company,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  year  which  he 
spent  in  connection  w  ith  the  Remingtons,  continued  his  association  with 
Mr.  Weston  until  Jidy,  1886.  Some  of  the  most  important  work,  such 
as  the  research  which  ended  in  the  discovery  of  high  resistance  alloys 
of  very  low  or  even  negative  temperature  coefticients,  were  substantially 
carried  out  by  Mr.  Kelly  under  a  few  general  directions  from  Mr. 
Weston,  whom  Mr.  Kelly  succeeded  as  chief  electrician  of  the  United 
States  Electric  Lighting  Comi)an}-,  which  in  1889  passed  to  the  Westing- 


280  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

house  interesis,  Mr.  Kelly  reinainint^-  in  this  position  until  January,  1892, 
^vhen  he  resipned  to  join.  William  Stanle\-  in  ex])erimental  work. 

Mr.  Kelly's  inventive  work  is  partially  represented  hv  eighty  patents. 
The  art  of  building  transformers  and  g"enerators  of  alternating  currents 
was  revolutionized  and  Mr.  Kelly  and  his  colleagues  were  the  first  to  put 
polyphase  motors  into  actual  commercial  service.  That  success  naturallv 
led  to  long-distance  transmission  work  and  the  first  long-distance  trans- 
mission plants  in  California  (indeed  tlie  first  in  the  world)  were  under- 
taken on  Mr  Kelly's  recommendation  and  advice.  M(;st  of  his  v,')rk 
has  been  of  too  technical  a  character  to  command  i^opular  appreciation, 
such,  for  instance,  as  that  of  impro\ing  the  cpiality  of  steel.  He  was  the 
first  one  to  make  an  h.ystcrically  stable  steel,  a  matter  of  vastly  m.ore 
importance  than  the  comparatively  spectacular  transmission  work.  At 
the  present  time  (  1905)  Air.  Kelly  occupies  the  position  of  president  of 
tiie  John  V.  Kelly  Engineering  Company,  the  Cokel  Companv,  the  Tele- 
lectric  C(;n^pan\-,  the  Conchas  River  Power  Company,  and  director  of 
the  Soiitlrwestern  Exploration  Company.  The  Cokel  Compan^•  is  or- 
ganized to  exploit  the  in\erition  of  E.  W.  Cooke,  bv  means  of  winch 
food  stufl  may  be  perfectly  dehydrated,  losing  on  the  average  ninetv  per 
cent  in  weight.  Ecods  dehydrated  by  this  process,  although  free  from 
all  chemical  preservatives,  are  entirely  stable,  and  yet  preserve  their 
pristine  freshnes'^  through  extremes  of  temperature,  and  when  ser\'ed  are 
indistinguishable  from  fresh  foods  of  the  ordinary  type.  The  Telelectric 
Compan.y  is  organized  for  the  manufacture  of  electric  piano  plavers, 
which  are  either  entirely  automatic  or  entirely  controllable  at  will. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of  Electrical  Engi- 
neers, American  Electrc^chen  Society,  American  Academy  of  Political 
.Science,  American  Economical  Association,  American  Statistical  So- 
ciety, American-Irish  Historical,  and  Engineers'  Clulx  all  of  the  United 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  281 

States,  and  also  has  menil:;ersliip  in  the  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers, 
Society  of  Arts  and  Irisli  Texts  Society  of  England  and  the  Societe 
Internationale  des  Electricicns  of  Erance. 

Mr.  Kelly  was  married  in  Xew  York  city  in  1892  to  Helen  Eischer, 
and  the^•  are  the  parents  of  two  children  :    Eoghan  and  Domnall  Kelly. 

JACOB    GIMLICH. 

Among  the  progressi\'e  citizens  of  Pittsfield  few  have  had  a  wider 
sphere  of  usefulness  than  he  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs. 
From  the  outset  of  an  unusually  successful  and  active  business  career 
the  large  demands  upon  his  time  have  not  prevented  attention  to  diverse 
pubhc  interests  and  this  public  spiritedness  has  been  manifest  in  liberal 
coi  Iributions  of  coin  as  well  as  of  counsel.  Withal  Mr.  Gimlich  is  of 
unimpeachable  integrity,  and  that  time  tried  and  often  misapplied  sen- 
ter.ce,  ''  his  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond,"  is  widely  and  with  generally 
recognized  propriety  used  in  characterizing  him. 

Jacob  Gimlich,  Sr.,  who  lived  in  Rheinpfalz,  near  Mannheim,  Ba- 
varia, where  he  was  owner  of  a  productive  fruit  farm  and  vineyard,  was 
one  of  those  who,  with  Schurz.  Hecker,  Boernstein  and  others,  were 
forced  to  Hee  from  their  native  land  on  account  of  their  unsuccessful 
attempt  tc  bring  about  a  change  of  government  in  1848.  He  came  to 
the  United  States  in  that  year  with  his  wife  and  six  children,  and  settled 
in  Alban}\  Xew  York,  where  he  engaged  in  the  fruit  business.  His  wife 
was  a  widow  before  his  marriage  with  her.  and  a  son  oi  her  former 
marriage,  Da\id  Gre1)er,  ser^-ed  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war,  and  died  from  illness  contracted  in  the  line  of  duty.  Mr.  Gim- 
lich, Sr.,  subsequently  (i860)  took  up  his  residence  in  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts.    In   1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Eifth  Regiment,  New^  Jersey  In- 


'28-2  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

fantry,  with  which  he  participated  in  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and  other 
operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  General  McClellan.  He 
performed  faithful  and  courageous  service  until  he  was  prostrated  by 
disease  which  necessitated  his  discharge,  and  he  died  soon  after  his  re- 
turn to  Pittsfield.     Of  his  children 

Jacob  Gimlich,  born  in  Weisenheim,  Bavaria,  October  4,  1845, 
married  Louisa  Ellen,  daughter  of  the  late  William  Feige,  of  Pittsfield. 
Their  children  are:  David  J.,  in  business  with  his  father;  he  married 
Marie,  daughter  of  William  Wilcox,  of  Pittsfield.  Matilda  L.,  married 
Carl  Cyrus,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut.  Minnie,  married  George  H. 
Bennett,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecticut.  Marie,  married  Ernest  Humphrey, 
of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  Carrie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
moj.thi\  Amelia.  Caroline.  Clifford,  died  at  eleven  years  of  age.  Ar- 
thur, also  died  at  eleven  years  of  age. 

Soon  after  coming  to  Pittsfield  with  his  father,  Mr.  Gimlich  en- 
tered the  Taconic  woolen  mill  and  learned  designing,  and  was  offered  a 
good  position  in  that  department.  He  preferred,  however,  to  enter  into 
business  with  his  brother-in-law,  John  White,  and  the  two  purchased  a 
small  brewery  in  w^hich  they  began  operations  on  a  small  scale,  and  now 
they  are  owners  of  a  mammoth  establishment  two  hundred  feet  long, 
operated  under  the  corporate  title  of  Berkshire  Brewing  Association 
with  a  ca[»ital  stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  a  capacity  of 
seventy  thousand  barrels  w^ith  a  gratifying  yearly  increase  of  output. 
Mr.  Gimlicli  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  City  Savings  Bank,  and  is 
yet  a  director.  He  also  holds  the  same  position  in  the  Berkshire  Loan 
and  Trust  Company  and  the  Co-Operative  Bank,  and  is  interested  in  the 
Third  National  Bank,  of  which  he  was  an  original  stockholder. 

He  is  past  chancellor  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodae  of  Massachusetts.     He  is  a  member  of  Kas- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  283 

Sid  Senate,  Ancient  Essenic  Order,  and  of  the  local  camp  of  Sons  of 
Veterans.  Mr.  Gimlich  is  a  Democrat  of  the  stalwart  type,  and  has  been 
delegated  to  numerous  conventions,  municipal,  county,  state  and  con- 
gressional, and  has  acceptably  represented  Pittsfield  in  the  state  assem- 
bly, sessions  of  1883  and  1884,  serving  on  the  printing  and  towns  com- 
mittees. Mr.  Gimlich  has  been  for  more  than  forty  years  a  member  of 
Zion  Evangelical  Lutheran  church;  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  build- 
ing committee  in  the  erection  of  the  edifice  in  which  the  congregation 
now  worship,  was  for  thirt}-four  years  a  member  of  the  church  choir, 
and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  its  welfare.  For  many  years 
he  was  active  in  his  connection  with  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  of 
Pittsfield.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Musgrove  Knitting  Mill  and  Berk- 
shire Automobile  Company,  and  a  stockholder  of  the  Spark  Coil  Com- 
pany, of  Pittsfield,  and  Telelectric  Piano  Player  Company,  in  all  of 
which  connections  he  interested  himself  rather  in  the  promotion  of  the 
general  industrial  interests  of  the  community  than  for  personal  profit. 
Mr.  Gimlich  purchased  in  May,  1905,  the  Colonnade  Hotel,  Sea  Breeze, 
Daytona,  Florida,  w^iere  he  established  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  George  H. 
Bennett,  as  lessee,  and  there  Mr.  Gimlich  spends  portions  of  each  win- 
ter. 

EUGENE  BOUTON,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D. 

Eugene  Bouton,  A.  M.,  Ph.  D.,  late  superintendent  of  the  public 
schools,  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Bouton, 
a  Huguenot  who  fled  to  England  at  the  time  of  the  persecution  of  the 
Huguenots  in  France.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of  the 
Count  Nicholas  Bouton. 

John  Bouton  sailed  from  Gravcsend,  England,  July,  1635,  in  the 
bark  "  Issuance,"  and  landed  at  Boston  in  December  of  the  same  year, 


284  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

aged  twenty  years.  He  married  Joan  Turney,  and  resided  first  in  Bos- 
ton and  then  in  Watertown,  Connecticut.  He  was  an  early  settler  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut.  remD^'ing•  to  Norwalk  in  165 1,  and  served  in 
many  official  positions  in  the  town,  and  was  a  representative  for  several 
years  previous  to  1671.  His  wife  died  at  Norwalk,  and  he  married 
(second),  January  i.  1656,  Abigail  Marvin,  daughter  of  Matthew  Mar- 
vin, who  came  from  London,  England.  She  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  about  1640,  and  died  about  1672.  He  married  (third), 
about  1673,  Mary  Stevenson,  widow  of  Jonathan  Stevenson,  who  was 
killed  in  an  Indian  fight  near  Norwalk.  John  Bouton  himself  died  in 
Danbury,  Connecticut,  and  left  an  estate  in  Norwalk,  part  of  which  is 
still  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants.  He  had  two  children  by  his  first 
wife,  five  by  the  second,  and  four  by  the  third.  The  first  child  by  the 
third  wife  was 

Joseph  Bouton,  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut.  He  was  a  captain 
under  General  Montgomery  in  his  march  on  Quebec,  and  after  the  war 
settled  near  South  Salem,  New  York,  and  was  an  elder  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  there  until  he  died,  July  8,  1747.  He  had  nine  children. 
The  third  was 

Joseph  Bouton,  born  in  Norwalk,  about  1725,  died  about  1778.  He 
married,  August  25,  1748,  Susannah  Raymond.  He  enlisted  in  the 
French  war  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  according  to  die  "  History  of  Nor- 
walk."    He  had  eleven  children.     The  first  was 

William  Bouton,  born  in  Norwalk.  in  the  year  1749,  died  May  30, 
1828.  He  married,  February  15,  1769,  Sarah  Benedict,  born  in  Nor- 
walk, June  15,  1752,  died  August  16,  1844,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Benedict.  They  lived  in  Norwalk.  and  were  both  buried  in  Pine 
Island  Cemetery,  at  South  Norwalk.  They  had  fourteen  children.  The 
third  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  285 

William  Bonton,  born  in  Norwalk.  ]\larch  4,  1774.  died  at  Meredith 
Square,  Delaware  county,  New  York,  August  4,  1845.  He  married, 
March  26,  1795,  Hannah  Carrington,  born  August  2,  1777,  died  Au- 
gust 7,  1845.  They  lived  in  Meredith,  New  York.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren.    The  third  was 

Ira  Bouton,  born  in  ^^^atertown,  Connecticut,  May  4,  1799,  died  in 
Jefferson,  New  York.  August  30,  1864.  He  married,  at  Jefferson,  Cath- 
erine Marie  Stanley,  born  January  i,  1805,  died  November  29.  1844.  He 
married  (second)  Emma  Foote.  born  1810,  died  October  7,  1863.  He 
removed  with  his  father  to  Meredith.  New  York,  in  1808,  and  from 
there  to  Jefferson.  New  York.  He  was  lieutenant  in  the  104th  Regiment 
New  York  Infantry  in  1828.  He  had  eleven  children  by  his  first  wife, 
and  one  by  the  second,  w'ho  was 

Eugene  Bouton,  born  in  Jefferson,  New  York.  December  8,  1850. 
He  married,  June  29,  1887,  Elizabeth  Renville  Gladwin,  1)orn  in  Sher- 
burne. New  York,  October  9,  1865.  daughter  of  Albert  R.  Gladwin. 
Esq. 

Mr.  Bouton  entered  Yale  College,  after  a  course  at  the  seminary  at 
Cazenovia,  New  York,  where  he  secured  numerous  prizes,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1875,  and  was  the  class  poet.  He  taught  in  the  academy  at 
Norwich,  New  York,  for  two  years,  was  principal  of  the  union  school 
at  Sherburne  for  three  years  and  professor  in  the  academy  at  Albany, 
New  York,  for  three  and  a  half  years.  While  in  the  latter  place  he  was 
elected  a  professor  in  the  college  at  Charleston.  South  Carolina,  but  re- 
mained in  Albany.  In  1881  he  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
from  Yale  College,  and  made  a  trip  to  Europe.  He  receixed  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  from  Syracuse  Uni\-ersity.  Januar}-  1.  1884.  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  institute  faculty  of  the  state  of  New  "N'ork, 
January,    1886,   deputy   superintendent    of   public    instruction,    and    soon 


286  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

after  principal  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  New  Paltz,  New  York. 
He  was  until  recently  superintendent  of  public  schools  in  Pittsfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  published  an  educational  work  in  1884,  and  has  written 
many  papers  on  other  topic?,  as  well  as  on  education.  He  was  a  warden 
of  St.  Stephen's  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  while  a  resident  of  Pitts- 
field.  He  has  a  child,  Katherine,  born  in  Sherburne,  New  York,  Janu- 
ary 26,  1889. 

GEORGE  HENRY  TUCKER. 

Another  of  the  worthy  members  of  an  old  and  honored  family  of 
the  colony  and  commonwealth  is  he  whose  name  is  the  caption  for  this 
narrative.  He  was  born  in  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  September  12,  1856, 
youngest  of  the  children  of  the  late  George  J.  and  Harriet  (Sill)  Tucker, 
and  half-brother  of  Hon.  Joseph  Tucker,  whose  personal  history  and 
genealogical  memoirs  are  contained  herein. 

George  H.  Tucker  prepared  for  college  in  Pittsfield  high  school  and 
was  graduated  from  Williams  College,  class  of  1878.  He  succeeded 
his  father  as  county  treasurer  in  1878,  and  served  with  the  characteristic 
efficiency  and  uncompromising  integrity  of  his  predecessors  up  to  July, 
1902,  when  he  was  called  to  the  cashiership  of  the  Pittsfield  National 
Bank,  of  which  he  is  incumbent. 

He  has  been  a  director  of  the  Berkshire  Life  Insurance  Company 
since  1888,  and  a  member  of  the  finance  committee  since  1894;  was  a 
director  and  vice-president  of  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Pittsfield  up 
to  1902;  has  been  a  director  of  the  Housatonic  National  Bank  of  Stock- 
bridge  since  1898,  and  of  Pittsfield  Gas,  Coal  Company  since  1890,  and 
a  director  of  the  Stanley  Electric  Manufacturing  Company  from  its 
organization  until  it  was  merged  with  the  General  Electric  Company. 


George  J.   Tucker. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  287 

In  all  these  important  business  relations,  Mr.  Tucker  has  won  and  re- 
tained the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  business  associates. 

He  married  September  7,  1892,  Mary  Talcott  Briggs,  who  was 
torn  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  July  4,  1853,  and  died  November  4, 
1895,  and  who  was  a  daughter  of  General  Henry  Shaw  Briggs  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  (Talcott)  Briggs. 

General  Henry  S.  Briggs  was  a  son  of  George  Nixon  Briggs,  who 
was  a  member  of  congress  for  twelve  years  from  1831,  and  governor 
for  seven  years  from  1843.  Governor  Briggs  was  born  in  Adams,  Mas- 
sachusetts, April  12,  1796,  son  of  Allen  and  Nancy  (Brown)  Briggs, 
of  Cumberland,  Rhode  Island.  He  married  in  18 18,  Harriet  Hall, 
daughter  of  Ezra  and  Triphena  Hall,  of  Lanesborough. 

CHARLES  ALBERT  BROWNE. 

Charles  Albert  Browne,  inventor  of  the  electric  fuse,  which  proved 
such  a  valuable  and  effective  agent  in  hastening  the  completion  of  the 
Hoosac  tunnel,  is  of  early  colonial  ancestry  and  traces  his  line  of  de- 
scent, directly  and  collaterally,  from  several  of  the  most  distinguished 
founders  of  New  England,  including  Governor  Bradford,  John  Tilley, 
George  Soule,  Richard  Warren,  William  Brewster,  Miles  Standish  and 
Edmund  Dotey,  all  of  whom  were  Mayflow^er  Pilgrims;  also  from  Ed- 
w^ard  Bobit,  the  early  Taunton  settler,  who  was  killed  in  King  Philip's 
war,  and  others. 

On  the  maternal  side  he  is  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  eight  genera- 
tion of  Chad  Browne,  from  whom  the  line  of  descent  is  through  Daniel 
(2),  Jabez  (3),  William  (4),  Eleazor  (5),  Isaac  (6)  and  Albert  (7). 
Chad  Browne,  who  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Providence,  Rhode 
Island,  was  the  friend  and  associate  of  Roger  Williams  in  establishing 


288  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  first  church  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  America.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  ^vife,  whose  Christian  name  was  Ehzabeth,  is  unknown. 
He  was  the  origin  of  a  numerous  progen_y,  and  Brown  University  \\^as 
founded  by  one  of  his  descendants.  Daniel  (2)  Browne,  died  in  17 10, 
married  Ahce  Hearnden,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Ehzabeth  (White) 

Hearnden.     Jabez  (3)   Browne,  died  in  1724.  married  Anne  — ; 

and  Wilham  (4)  Browne,  whose  death  occurred  in  1757,  married  Patience 
Cobb.  Eleazor  (5)  Browne,  born  December  31,  1732,  died  in  18 15. 
married  Sarah  Scott,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  (4)  and  a  descendant  of 
Richard  through  John  (2)  and  Sylvanus  (3)  Scott,  who  married  Joanna 
Jenckes,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Joseph  (2)  and  granddaughter  of 
Joseph  (i)  Jenckes.  Isaac  (6)  Browne,  born  August  24,  1776,  died 
August  31,  1865.  married  Susanna  Bradford  Browne,  born  February 
15,  1782,  died  January  22,  1876,  was  a  descendant  in  the  sixth  genera- 
tion of  Governor  William  Bradford,  through  William  (2),  Israel  (3), 
Abner  (4),  and  "Elisha  (5)  Bradford.  She  was  also  of  the  eighth  gen- 
eration from  Richard  W^arren  and  William  Brewster,  and  of  the  sev- 
enth from  Love  Brewster  and  John  Alden. 

Albert  Gallatin  (7)  Browne,  Charles  A.  Browne's  father,  was  bom 
in  Adams,  Massachusetts,  October  3,  1810.  He  resided  in  Cheshire, 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  from  whence  he  removed  to  Lanes- 
boro,  and  finally  settled  in  North  Adams,  where  his  death  occurred  No- 
vember 13,  1888.  He  was  married  April  29,  1837,  at  Cheshire,  by 
Rev.  John  Leland,  to  Adeline  Babbitt,  who  was  born  in  Hancock,  Mas- 
sachusetts, April  25,  1815.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  "Snell  and  Jael 
(Edson)  Babbitt,  and  a  descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  of  Ed- 
ward Bobit,  previously  referred  to,  through  Edward  (2),  Nathan  (3), 
Nathan  (4),  Snellum  (5)  and  Snell  (6).  Mrs.  Adeline  (Babbitt) 
Browne  died  July  7,  1888.     She  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  2S9 

church.  Albert  Gallatin  (7)  and  Adeline  (Babbitt)  Browne  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  namely:  Frances,  born  March  7,  1838  (died 
August  16,  1867)  ;  Ann  Eliza,  born  March  30  (died  August  4,  i860)  ; 
Charles  Albert,  the  principal  subject  of  this  sketch;  Isaac,  born  Septem- 
ber 23,  1850;  and  William,  born  January  9,  1854  (died  August  20  of 
the  same  year). 

Charles  Albert  (8)  Browne  was  born  in  Adams,  July  17.  1842.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  including  the  Drury  High  School,  and 
completed  his  studies  with  a  commercial  course  at  Comer's  Business 
College,  Boston.  As  a  young  man  he  was  a  close  student  of  electrical 
science,  which  he  not  only  mastered  theoretically,  but  became  a  prac- 
tical electrician  of  world  wide  reputation.  He  is  the  inventor  of  an 
irhproved  form  of  the  now  indispensable  electric  fuse ;  his  fuse  being  used 
w^ith  such  wonderful  effect  during  the  construction  of  the  Hoosac  tun- 
nel, and  has  since  proved  of  inestimable  value  to  modern  engineering. 
This  device  he  manufactured  until  the  fruits  of  his  invention  enabled 
him  to  retire  permanently  from  active  business  pursuits,  and  he  is  now 
residing  in  North  Adams.  In  politics  he  generally  supports  the  Repub- 
lican party  but  prefers  to  act  independently  when  occasion  demands, 
voting  for  the  candidates  who  in  his  opinion  are  the.  best  qualified  to 
hold  public  office.     He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Congregational  church. 

On  June  9,  1869,  Mr.  Brownie  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Susan  McCallum.  who  was  born  in  North  Adams,  Fd^ruary  26,  1847, 
daughter  of  Miller  and  Sarah  (Arnold)  McCallum.  She  is  of  Scotch 
descent  on  the  paternal  side,  being  of  the  fifth  generation  in  direct  line 
from  John  McCallum,  through  John  (2),  William  (3)  and  Miller  (4) 
McCallum.  The  first  John  McCallum  mentioned  here  was  an  iron- 
monger of  Glasgow,  and  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  considerable  im- 
|x>rtance,  as  he  was  buried  in  the  cryiit  of  the  Glasgow  Cathedral.     The 


290  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

second  John  McCallrm  married  Margaret  Morrison,  and  his  son,  Will- 
iam (3)  McCallum,  whose  death  occurred  in  1813,  married  Agnes  Flem- 
ing, daughter  of  John  Fleming,  who  belonged  to  a  famous  Scotch  family 
of  remote  antiquity.  Miller  (4)  McCallum,  Mrs.  Browne's  father,  who 
was  born  January  15,  1806  fdied  June  7,  1875),  acquired  a  knowledge 
of  the  woollen  manufacturing-  business  in  Scotland,  and  emigrating  to 
the  United  States  was  for  many  years  in  charge  of  the  dyeing  depart- 
ment of  the  Blackinton  Woolen  Mills,  North  Adams.  Shortly  after  the 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  he  went  there  by  the  way  of  Cape  Horn, 
and  he  also  resided  for  some  time  in  Brazil.  On  April  21,  1846,  he 
married  Sarah  Arnold,  \>ho  was  born  March  15,  1820  (died  March  4, 
T864).  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  (Sherman)  Arnold, 
and  a  granddaugliter  of  Ebenezer  Arnold.  Susanna  Sherman  was  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Amy  (Gardner)  Sherman,  the  latter  a  daughter  of 
George  Gardner.  John  Sherman  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Sherman  and 
through  AViliiam  and  Ebenezer  ^vas  a  descendant  of  Philip  Sherman, 
who  was  a  colleague  of  Roger  Williams  in  the  settlement  of  Rhode 
Island.  Miller  and  Sarah  (Arnold)  McCallum  were  the  parents  of  one 
child,  Susan,  who  married  Charles  A.  Browne  as  above  stated.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Browne  have  five  children,  all  born  in  North  Adams,  and  gradu- 
ates of  the  Drury  high  school : 

1.  Charles  A.  Browne,  Jr.,  born  August  12,  1870.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  Williams  College  with  the  class  of  1892,  subsequently  studied 
at  the  University  of  Gottingen,  wdiere  he  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Philosophy  in  1902,  and  is  now  the  official  chemist  at  Audubon  Park, 
New  Orleans,  Louisiana. 

2.  Frances  Eliza  Browne,  born  August  31,  1872.  She  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Smith  College,  and  is  now  teaching  in  the  Drury  High  School. 

3.  W^illiam  Bradford  Browne,  born  May  7,  1875.     He  graduated 


'YTTy  m-fu^j 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  291 

from  Drnry  Academy  in  1893.  He  spent  seven  years  in  Holyoke, 
Massachusetts,  learning  the  stationery  and  tablet  business,  and  when  he 
left  that  place  was  foreman  for  the  Smith  Tablet  Company.  After 
spending  two  and  a  half  years  in  North  Adams,  in  the  office  of  the 
Arnold  Print  Works,  he  resumed  the  paper  business,  and  is  now-  fore- 
man for  the  Hampden  Pad  and  Paper  Company,  of  Springfield,  Massa- 
chusetts. 

4.  Sarah  Arnold  Browne,  born  May  2,  1879.  She  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  North  Adams  Normal  School  in  1898.  She  was  mar- 
ried September  18.  1901,  to  Clifford  Campbell  Haskins,  who  was  grad- 
uated from  Williams  in  1898,  and  is  now  of  the  firm  of  Haskins  Broth- 
ers, local  insurance  agents.  Their  children  are :  Frances  Alden,  born 
May  21,  1902;  and  Stuart  Campbell,  born  February  26,  1904. 

5.  Agnes  Fleming  Browne,  born  November  13,  1881.  She  is 
stenographer  for  the  AA'aterhouse  and  Howard  A\^oolen  Company  of 
North  Adams. 

JOHN  WHITE. 

Four  years'  brave  service  for  the  country  of  his  adoption  and  forty 
years  of  close  and  successful  attention  to  a  business  which  developed 
from  meagre  proportions  to  a  leading  industry  of  western  Massachusetts 
are  the  main  features  of  the  career  of  John  White. 

He  was  born  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  December  27.  1839,  son  of 
Conrad  and  Elizabeth  (Lange)  White.  Conrad  White,  who  was  a 
farmer,  died  in  1867,  and  his  widow  and  five  children  immediately  there- 
after came  to  the  United  States,  eventually  locating  in  Pittsfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  she  died  in  1888.  Of  her  children,  Henr}'  died  in 
Pittsfield;  Elizabeth  married   Francis   Stein,  of   New  York  city;   Mary 


292  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

married  John  Van  Nida,  of  Pittsiield;  Lizzie  married  John  Frisch:  and 
Libbie  married  Paul  Koepke,  of  Pittsfield. 

John  White,  eldest  of  the  children,  was  educated  in  Germany  and 
came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  spent  the  first 
four  years  (1857-61)  in  New  York  city,  and  in  August  -of  the  latter 
year  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery.  He 
participated  in  some  of  the  most  notable  campaigns  and  bloody  battles 
of  the  Civil  war,  and  bore  a  soldierly  part  in  the  engagements  at  Bull 
Run,  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg.  He  re-enlisted  for  three  years 
in  the  same  battery,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  while  serving  in  that  command  he  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of 
Murfreesboro  and  Nashville,  and  was  with  Sherman  in  the  operations 
against  Atlanta.  He  was  honorably  discharged  July  28,  1865,  the  war 
having  ended,  and  returned  to  New  York  city,  where  he  resumed  the 
baking  business  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  when  he  entered  the 
army. 

in  January,  1866,  Mr.  White  removed  to  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  in  September,  1868,  entered  into  the  partnership  relations  with  Jacob 
Gimlich,  which  have  ever  since  been  maintained,  and  which  resulted  in 
the  establishment  of  the  extensive  brewing  plant  at  Pittsfield,  now  oper- 
ated by  them  under  the  name  of  Berkshire  Brewing-  Association.  Mr. 
White  is  a  member  of  several  societies — the  order  of  Odd  Pellows,  the 
Harugari,  the  German  Society,  and  the  Turn  Verein.  He  is  past  com- 
mander of  Rockwell  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  in  1897 
served  on  the  staff  of  General  Clarkson,  department  commander,  at  the 
state  encampment  at  Buffalo,  New  York.  He  has  been  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  has  served  the 
congregation  as  secretary  and  treasurer  continuously  since  1872. 

Mr.  White  was  married  September  19,  1867,  to  Miss  Rachel  Gim- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  293 

lich,  a  sister  of  Jacob  Gimlich.  his  partner.  Their  children  are :  George, 
engaged  in-  the  cflice  of  GimHch  &  AVhite,  and  who  married  J\Iary  Ho- 
dacker  and  has  two  children,  Ruth  and  Marion;  Frederick,  who'  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Engel,  has  two  children,  David  J.  and  Dorothy,  and  is 
owner  of  a  brew'ei'y  in  Schenectady,  New  York.  Agnes  married  John . 
Vogei,  of  Albany,  New  York,  and  has  three  children,  Martha,  John  and 
Marguerite;  Ellen,  recently  graduated  from  Nurses'  Training  School, 
Providence,  Rhode  Island;  Emma,  wife  of  Charles  W.  Gamwell,  of 
Pittsfield;  John  A.,  engaged  in  the  office  of  Gimlich  &  White;  Dorothy, 
wife  of  Charles  \\\  Hodacker;  Lillie;  David  L.,  Walter  G.  and  W.  W. 
Rockwell  White. 

HENRY  COLT,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Henry  Colt,  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  is  descended  from  an- 
cestors of  the  early  colonial  times,  and  from  those  who  were  conspicuous 
in  military  and  community  affairs  during  the  Revolutionary  period. 

Captain  James  Denison  Colt,  born  1740,  married  Phebe  Ely.  (See 
Ely  genealogy  in  this  work.)  He  married  (second)  in  Pittsfield,  pub- 
lished December  18,  1773,  Miriam  Williams,  born  February  6,  1756, 
died  March  30,  181 1,  daughter  of  Colonel  William  and  Sarah  (Wells) 
Williams.  He  and  his  wife  were  admitted  to  the  First  Congregational 
church  in  Pittsfield  in  1767.  Captain  Colt  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
and  was  prominent  in  town  affairs,  serving  on  the  various  committees 
appointed  during  the  war,  and  also  on  a  committee  appointed  to  settle 
church  matters  concerning  which  some  difficulties  arose.  He  was  one 
of  the  heaviest  taxpayers  in  town,  and  held  one  thousand  acres  of  land 
in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town.  He  w'as  selectman  in  1782.  He  had 
three  children  by  his  first  wife  and  ten  by  the  second.    His  first  child  was 

James  Danielson  Colt,  baptized  in  Pittsfield,  October  17,  1768,  died 


'294:  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

December  i,  1856.  He  married,  May  8,  1791,  Sarah  Root,  born  June  24, 
1771,  died  April  8,  1865,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Ruth  (Noble)  Root. 
He  began  business  in  1799  with  his  brother  Samuel  D.  Colt,  as  J.  D.  & 
S.  D.  Colt,  on  the  corner  of  South  and  West  streets,  the  map  of  1800 
locating  the  store  at  No.  i  South  street,  and  his  house  at  No.  i  West 
street.  Mrs.  Colt  was  descended  from  John  Root,  who  came  from  Bad- 
by,  England,  and  was  a  first  settler  of  Farmington,  Connecticut,  in  1640, 
and  from  Thomas  Noble,  an  early  settler  of  Westfield,  Massachusetts. 
She  was  admitted  to  the  church  June  30,  1799,  and  was  an  original 
member  of  the  Union  church,  August  22,  1809.  By  her  marriage  with 
James  D.  Colt  she  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  of  whom  the 
youngest  was 

Henry  Colt,  born  November  2,  181 2,  baptized  June  27,  181 3,  died 
January  16,  1888.  He  was  married,  at  Utica,  New  York,  September 
24,  1839,  to  Elizabeth  Goldthwait.  She  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Judge 
Ezekiel  and  Abigail  (Smith)  Bacon,  and  was  born  February  12,  1812, 
at  the  corner  of  Pomeroy  avenue  and  East  street,  where  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  E.  D.  G.  Jones  now  stands.  She  lived  in  Utica,  New  York 
(whither  her  parents  removed),  until  1839,  when  she  married  Mr.  Colt, 
and  resided  thereafter  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Colt  was  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  Berkshire  county  fami- 
lies. Her  grandfather,  Hon.  and  Rev.  John  Bacon,  was  born  in  Con- 
necticut, and  graduated  from  Princeton  College  with  the  class  of  1765. 
In  1 77 1  he  was  installed  assistant  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church  in 
Boston,  in  which  connection  he  remained  until  1775.  He  then  located  in 
Stockbridge,  Berkshire  county,  where  he  found  early  recognition  as  one 
of  the  master  minds  of  that  community,  and  his  services  were  brought 
into  reciuisition  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  many  important  posi- 
tions.    He  was  a  member  of  the  state  senate,  and  president  of  that 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  295 

body ;  judge  and  chief  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  of  Berkshire 
county,  and  from  1801  to  18 16  served  as  a  member  of  congress.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Goldthwait.  Their  son  Ezekiel,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Colt,  was  born  at  Boston,  September  i,  1775.  was  graduated  from  Yale 
College  with  the  class  of  1794,  read  law  with  Hon.  Nathan  Dane,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Williamstown.  Berkshire 
county.  He  removed  to  Pittsfield  in  1806,  in  which  year  he  was  elected 
to  congress,  receiving  every  vote  cast  in  Pittsfield.  He  was  war  chair- 
man of  the  cong'ressional  committee  of  ways  and  means  in  18 12,  and 
proved  abundantly  equal  to  the  onerous  task  then  thrust  upon  him. 
After  leaving  congress  Mr.  Bacon  was  on  the  bench  in  Massachusetts. 
but  ultimately  removed  to  Utica,  New  York,  where  he  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.  A  volume  of  his  poems  was  published  in  1842.  ]\Irs.  Eliza- 
beth Goldthwait  Colt  died  September  9,    1890. 

Henry  Colt  was  a  farmer  in  early  life,  and  was  prominent  in  the 
County  Agricultural  Society.  As  a  wool  dealer  he  became  interested  in 
a  factory,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Pittsfield  Woolen  Company 
in  1852,  and  the  plant  was  sold  to  the  Bel  Air  Company  in  1S73.  He 
was  a  selectman  from  1852  to  1856,  and  through  the  Civil  war,  when 
the  duties  of  such  an  oflicer  were  strenuous  and  exacting,  in  all  of  which 
he  accjuitted  himself  with  ability  and  integrity.  He  was  a  water  com- 
missioner in  1864,  a  director  of  the  Pittsfield  National  Bank,  a  trustee 
of  the  Massachusetts  Agriculturrd  Society,  and  a  director  of  the  Boston 
&  Albany  Railroad  Company  from  1878  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  ])arish,  and  always  took 
an  interest  in  its  growth  and  usefulness.  Of  his  four  children,  the 
youngest  was  Dr.  Henry  Colt,  born  November  9,  1856.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Pittsfield,  and  was  graduated  from  Williams  Col- 
lege with  the  class  of  1878.     He  graduated  from  the  Harvard  ^ledical 


2fH^.  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

School  in  1 88 1,  and  is  a  practicing  physician  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts. 
He  is  associate  medical  director  of  the  Berkshire  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany; medical  examiner  Berkshire  county;  chairman  of  the  medical 
and  suro-ical  board.  House  of  Mercy  Hospital,  Pittsfield;  trustee  of  the 
Berkshire  Athenaeum;  director  in  the  Pittsfield  National  Bank,  and  the 
Berkshire  Loan  and  Trust  Company,  Pittsfield. 

Richard  Ely,  from  whom  is  descended  Dr.  Henry  Colt  in  the  ma- 
ternal line,  was  a  native  of  England,  and  died  in  Lyme,  Connecticut, 
November  24,  1684.  He  married  in  England,  Joan  Phipps,  who  died 
at  Plymouth,  England,  January  7,  1660.  He  married  (second)  at  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  in  1664,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cullick,  widow  of  Captain 
John  Cullick,  and  sister  of  Hon.  George  Fenwick;  she  died  at  Lyme, 
Connecticut,  November  12,  1683.  Richard  Ely  came  from  Plymouth, 
England,  between  1660  and  1663.  with  his  son  Richard,  and  after  re- 
siding in  Boston  for  a  short  time  settled  in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  which 
was  in  1660  a  part  of  Saybrook.  He  had  three  thousand  acres  of  land 
in  Lyme,  and  was  prominent  in  colonial  affairs.  His  tombstone  of 
brown  stone  has  the  Ely  coat-of-arms  at  one  end,  and  is  a  sarcophagus 
of  stately  appearance.  He  was  among  the  first  to  give  freedom  to 
his  slaves.  His  wife  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  sister  of  Constantine 
John  Phipps,  Baron  Mulgrau,  the  great  navigator  and  admiralty  com- 
missioner, and  of  Viscount  Normandy,  an  officer  in  the  British  army. 
She  bore  to  Richard  Ely  four  of  his  five  children  (his  fifth  being  bv  his 
second  wife),  and  their  1>irths  are  recorded  in  Plymouth,  England.  The 
third  of  the  children  was 

Richard  Ely  (2),  l^orn  in  1656.  baptized  in  Plymouth,  England, 
June  19,  1657.  He  married,  in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  Mary  Marvin,  born 
1666,  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Reinold  and  Sarah    (Clark)    Marvin,   of 


v-^N2^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  297 

Lyme.     He  came  with  his  father  to  America,  and  settled  with  him  at 
Lyme.     Of  his  four  children  the  youngest  was 

Deacon  Richard  Ely,  born  in  Lyme.  October  27,  1697.  died  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1777.  He  married  Elizabeth  Peck,  who  died  October  8, 
1730.  He  married  (second),  October  26,  1732,  Phebe  Hubbard,  born 
1705,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Abigail  (Adams)  Hubbard,  of  Middle- 
town,  Connecticut.  She  was  descended  from  George  Hubbard,  one  of 
the  original  settlers  of  Hartford,  Connecticut.  Deacon  Ely  was  the. 
father  of  thirteen  children.  The  eleventh,  who  was  the  seventh  by  his 
second  wife,  was 

Phebe  Ely,  born  in  Lyme,  Connecticut,  May  16,  1743,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Captain  James  Denison  Colt,  the  progenitor  of  the 
Pittsfield  family  of  that  name.  She  died  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
December  25,  1772. 

WILLIAM  H.  GROSS. 

Many  causes  have  combined  to  render  world-famous  the  Berkshire 
Hills  county,  pre-eminently,  of  course,  its  abounding  beauties  of  land- 
scape, ag'ain  through  its  wonderful  development  in  the  manufacturing 
world,  and  in  no  small  measure  through  the  beauty,  density  and  durabil- 
ity of  the  white  marble  there  quarried.  In  the  early  '50s  Charles  Heeb- 
ner,  in  company  with  Messrs.  Rice  and  Baird,  opened  quarries  at  Lee, 
the  development  of  which  has  been  one  of  the  significant  business  suc- 
cesses of  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts.  The  original  firm  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Mr.  Heebner,  who  took  into  partnership  assistance  a  nephew, 
Frank  S.  Gross,  who  succeeded  to  the  quarry  ownership  upon  his  uncle's 
decease. 

William  H.  Gross  was  born  May  i,  1844.  in  Trappe.  Pennsylvania. 


298  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Catherine  (Heebner)  Gross.  As  a  youth  he  be- 
came, in  association  with  his  brother,  Charles  H.  Gross,  an  assistant  of 
the  brother  Frank  S.  Gross,  and  upon  the  decease  of  the  latter  attained 
to  the  proprietorship  of  the  business.  Two  years  later  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Gray  &  Sons,  but  this  connection  was  dissolved  at  the  end 
of  fifteen  months,  since  which  time  (1896)  William  H.  Gross  has  been 
sole  owner  of  the  plant.  The  product  of  the  Lee  quarries  is  a  pure, 
•white  marble,  fine  enough  for  statuaiy,  and  capable  of  taking  a  beauti- 
ful polish.  From  its  density  it  has  long  been  regarded  by  scientific 
building  experts  as  superior  tO'  any  other  variety  of  native  marble  now 
in  use  for  building  purposes.  The  extent  of  the  deposit  is  about  one 
mile  in  length  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide.  The  quarry  and  works 
are  equipped  with  the  latest  and  best  machinery  and  the  workmen  are 
the  best  to  be  found  in  the  country.  Many  notable  edifices  are  con- 
structed of  Lee  marble;  the  new  public  building,  on  Broad  and  Market 
streets,  Philadelphia;  the  First  National  Bank  building,  postoffice  build- 
ing, and  wings  and  terrace  of  the  capitol  at  Washington,  D.  C. ;  the  new 
addition  to-  the  capitol  at  Boston,  Massachusetts;  the  Cathedral  and  many 
other  New  York  buildings ;  the  Foster  mansion  at  Lenox ;  the  Farm- 
ers' and  Mechanics',  Fidelity  and  Drexel  Buildings,  the  Caldwell,  Jaynes 
and  Messchents  stores,  Philadelphia;  the  Newell  and  Jones  buildings  of 
Boston,  and  very  many  others.  There  is  a  constant  shipment  of  carved 
trimmings  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  Mr.  Gross  by  his  administrative 
ability  and  his  adherence  to  the  strictest  principles  of  integrity  com- 
mands the  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  his  generous  nature  and 
genial  manner  have  won  for  him  the  cordial  regard  of  all. 

Mr.  Gross'  Democracy  is  of  the  stalwart  type,  his  active  suppori 
of  men  and  measures  and  the  characteristic  generosity  of  his  pecuniar) 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  299 

assistance  in  every  campaign  being  relied  upon  with  absolute  certainty 
and  invariably  and  unhesitatingly  given. 

He  married,  August  27,  1903,  Miss  Kate  Tobey,  of  Thomaston, 
Maine. 

HARVEY  STEARNS  CROWELL. 

The  Crowell  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  the  name  is  popu- 
larly supposed  to  be  a  contraction  of  the  name  Cromwell  which  took 
place  during  the  days  of  Cromwell's  unpopularity.  The  name  Crowell 
is  one  of  the  earliest  that  appears  in  our  New  England  history,  and 
seems  to  have  spread  from  the  early  settlers  of  Cape  Cod. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Harvey  S.  Crowell  with  his  family 
removed  inland  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  the  town  of  West 
Brookfield,  Massachusetts.  His  family  consisted  of  two  sons,  Ste- 
phen, w^ho  was  born,  married,  lived  and  died  in  West  Brookfield,  and 
whose  family  became  extinct  by  the  death  of  his  only  son  George;  and 
Nathaniel  S.,  also  a  native  of  W^est  Brookfield,  where  he  became  a 
leading  citizen.  He  married  a  daughter  of  New  Hampshire,  Susan 
Page  Stearns,  and  the  issue  of  this  union  was  two  sons :  Charles  Page 
Crowell,  born  1838,  who  died  in  August,  1870,  in  Holyoke,  Massa- 
chusetts, leaving  two  daughters,  and  Harvey  Stearns  Crowell. 

The  latter  was  born  in  West  Brookfield,  Massachusetts,  October 
6,  1834.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm,  and  acquired 
a  good  English  education  in  the  district  schools  of  that  village.  When 
he  was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  work  with  his  brother 
Charles,  w4io  was  a  millwright,  with  whom  he  remained  four  years 
and  then  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  grocery  store  in  Ware,  Massachu- 
setts, which  occupation  he  followed  four  years.  He  then  went  on  a 
visit  to  his  uncle,   Reuben  Button,  in  Messena,  New  York,   where  he 


300  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

established  himself  in  a  small  gTocery  store  of  his  own.  He  conducted 
two  or  three  stores  in  different  villages  in  New  York  state,  including 
one  in  Hoosic  Falls,  which  he  conducted  for  a  period  of  twelve  years. 
After  disposing  of  the  latter  he  spent  one  year  in  Windsor,  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts.  In  1871  he  purchased  the  stock  and  fixtures 
of  a  grocer}'  establishment  at  the  corner  of  Fenn  and  North  streets, 
which  he  conducted  with  success  up  to  1888.  since  which  time  he  has 
been  living  in  retirement.  His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  January  25,  1865,  Mr.  Crowell  married  Martha  A. 
Merithew,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Lucy  INIerithew,  of  Petersburg,  New 
York,  and  the  first  year  of  their  married  life  was  passed  in  Hoosic 
Falls,  New  York.  In  1869,  while  a  resident  of  AVindsor,  Massachu- 
setts, their  only  child,  Charles  H.,  was  born.  Charles  H.  Crowell  has 
been  employed  for  about  fifteen  years  by  the  A.  H.  Rice  Silk  Company 
of  Pittsfield,  serving  now  in  the  capacity  of  bookkeeper.  He  married 
Julia  Phelps  Van  Rensselaer,  daughter  of  Dr.  Walter  and  Jane  Van 
Rensselaer,  of  Kingston,  New  York,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two 
children :  Harvey  and  Merithew  Crowell.  They  make  their  home  at 
88  Bradford  street,  Pittsfield,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  S.  Crowell. 
Mr.  Crowell  is  not  actively  identified  with  any  church ;  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his  son  is  an  attendant 
at  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

GEORGE  H.  COOPER. 

George  H.  Cooper,  whose  name  forms  the  caption  for  the  memoirs 
of  an  old  Berkshire  family  with  which  he  is  allied  by  marriage,  is  one 
of  the  substantial  and  progressive  young  merchants  of  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, a  dealer  in  coal  and  wood.     His  excellent  business  training  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  301 

gained  llunugh  his  employment  at  the  Pbmeroy  Mills,  and  subsequently 
with  W.  G.  Morton,  leading  coal  merchant  of  Albany,  New  York. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  united  in  marriage  to  Etta  Ayres,  daughter  of 
Perry  J.  Ayers,  whose  great-grandfather  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Shuteibury,  Massachusetts,  and  whose  grandfather,  Jesse  Ayres,  was 
a  native  of  that  town  and  became  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Franklin 
county.  The  father  of  Perry  J.  Ayres,  Tyler  Ayres,  was  born  April  7, 
1804,  resided  in  Franklin  county  until  1824,  and  subsequently  settled  in 
vStephenson,  New  York,  where  he  cultivated  the  soil  and  followed  the 
trade  of  tanner  for  twenty-five  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  period 
of  time  he  located  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  long  and  useful  career,  and  there  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  years.  He  married,  at  Stephenson,  Marian  Jane  Potter,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Potter,  who,  with  his  father  Robert  Potter,  removed 
from  Potter  county,  Rhode  Island,  to  New  York  state.  Robert  Potter 
served  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war  as  a  soldier  in  the  patriot  army, 
and  his  son  William  was  in  the  United  States  army  during  the  war  of 
1812. 

Tyler  Ayres  was  the  father  of  seven  children,  of  whom  Perry  J. 
Ayres  was  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  was  born  February  11,  1830, 
He  obtained  the  educational  advantages  that  \\ere  to  be  deri\-ed  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  locality,  which  he  attended  during  the  winter  months 
up  to  his  twelfth  year,  and  at  that  early  age  was  compelled  to  turn  his 
attention  to  the  serious  business  of  earning  a  livelihood.  He  was  a  farm- 
er's boy  primarily,  and  followed  the  vocation  of  a  tiller  of  the  soil  up 
to  the  year  1855.  He  then  changed  his  place  of  residence  to  Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  Silas  N.  Fxjot.  with  whom 
he  remained  for  four  years,  and  the  succeeding  seven  years  was  actively 
connected  with  the  firm  of  Noble  &  Brewster.     In  1870  he  established  a 


302  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

meat  and  provision  business,  and  in  this  new  enterprise  achieved  a  large 
degree  of  success. 

Mr.  Ayers  married.  February  13,  185 1,  Marietta  Clark,  daughter 
of  William  D.  Clark,  a  native  of  Pittsfield.  Her  paternal  grandmother, 
Hannah  Fairfield,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Fairfield,  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Pittsfield,  was  the  first  white  female  born  in  Pittsfield,  and  her 
mother,  who  was  Martha  Weir,  was  a  daughter  of  a  revolutionary  sol- 
dier, and  a  granddaughter  of  Zebediah  Stiles,  a  noted  man  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Pittsfield. 

JOHN  CHURCHILL. 

John  Churchill,  an  honored  and  respected  citizen  -of  Pittsfield, 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  who  has  held  various  important  of- 
fices in  the  city  government,  is  descended  from  an  old  family  dating 
back  to  colonial  days.  He  is  in  the  fourth  generation  from  the  an- 
cestor of  that  name,  who.  early  in  the  history  of  Massachusetts,  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  and  about  the  historic  town  of  Plymouth, 
Massachusetts.  His  christian  name,  John,  has  appeared  in  almost  every 
generation  of  the  family. 

His  grandfather,  John  Churchill  (2),  a  son  of  John  Churchill  (i), 
was  the  first  to  settle  in  the  frontier  county  of  Berkshire,  Massachu- 
setts, and  he  purchased  a  farm  there  as  early  as  1750,  when  farming 
was  carried  on  under  most  hazardous  conditions.  The  farm  was  worked 
and  improved  by  honest  effort  and  toil  until  at  the  time  of  his  decease 
it  was  in  a  most  productive  state.  He  was  a  man  of  broad  intelligence 
and  excellent  judgment,  was  resorted  to  by  his  neighbors  to  do  their 
legal  business,  and  was  also  called  to  various  public  positions.  He 
served  as  county  commissioner,  and  was  a  representative  to  the  general 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  303 

court  for  twelve  years.  He  married  Miss  Mehitable  Hubbard,  and  to 
them  a  large  family  was  born,  of  whom  eight  children  grew  to  adult 
life:  Martha,  born  1789;  Sophia,  1792;  Charles,  1796;  Laura,  1797; 
Lucy,  1799;  Jane,  1800;  Sarah,  1809;  and  Samuel  A. 

Samuel  A.,  youngest  son  of  John  (2)  and  Mehitable  (Hubbard) 
Churchill,  was  born  on  the  old  farm,  where  he  spent  his  entire  life  con- 
tinuing the  work  which  had  been  begun  by  his  father.  Like  his  sire 
he  was  a  born  leader.  He  became  prominent  in  public  affairs ;  repre- 
sented his  district  as  county  commissioner,  served  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture three  terms,  and  was  recognized  as  a  useful  member  of  that  body. 
At  the  inspection  of  the  Hoosac  tunnel,  which  was  seeking  legislative 
support  against  some  opposition,  he  contracted  a  cold  which  resulted 
in  his  death  from  pneumonia  on  September  23,  1870.  He  was  origi- 
nally a  Whig  in  politics,  but  subsequently  connected  himself  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  married  Miss  Esther  G.  Brooks,  of  Lenox,  a 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected  families  of  that  place, 
but  who  are  now  all  passed  away.  The  following  children  were  born  to 
them:  Jane,  1842;  John,  of  whom  mention  is  hereafter  made. at 
greater  length. 

John  Churchill  (4),  youngest  child  and  only  son  of  Samuel  A. 
and  Esther  G.  (Brooks)  Churchill,  was  born  December  12,  1844.  He 
obtained  such  education  as  he  could  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  completed  his  studies  at  the  Lanesboro  Academy.  He  then 
returned  to  the  farm  and  engaged  in  its  management,  as  his  father  was 
devoting  much  of  his  time  to  public  duties.  In  due  time  he  became  the 
owner  of  the  farm,  and  this  he  successfully  cultivated  until  1894,  when 
he  retired  from  active  labor  and  moved  from  the  old  homestead  into 
the  city  proper.  Thus  the  old  farm  of  the  Churchills  on  the  border  of 
Onota  Lake  was  vacated  after  a  steady  occupancy  by  the  family  which 


304  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

had  created  it;  although  it  is  still  owned  by  Mr.  Churchill,  its  cultiva- 
tion will  be  carried  on  by  others.  Mr.  Churchill  possesses  the  natural 
talents  and  disposition  of  his  predecessors,  and  has  the  abilities  of  a 
born  leader.  He  has  always  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  much  respected  by  all  parties  for  his  ability.  He  has  been  an 
active  participant  in  the  municipal  affairs  of  Pittsfield.  having-  served 
on  the  common  council,  and  as  alderman,  and  has  also  been  a  member 
of  many  committees  and  commissions  chosen  from  time  to  time  to 
carry  out  the  will  of  the  public.  On  April  8,  1868,  Mr.  Churchill  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  E.  Belden,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Abbie  (Mattoon) 
Belden.  The  Beldens  were  for  many  years  one  of  the  leading  farming 
families  of  Lenox,  where  they  were  associated  with  the  management  of 
the  town  and  of  the  Congregational  church  corporation.  The  Belden 
family  have  long  since  passed  out  of  Lenox  as  an  abiding  place,  they 
having  moved  to  the  eastern  part  of  New  England,  the  sole  survivor, 
aside  from  Mrs.  Churchill,  being  a  sister,  Mrs.  Harmon  Babcock,  of 
Providence,  Rhode  Island.  Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Churchill:  Samuel  Belden,  1872,  who  received  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  at  Brown  University,  and  subsequently  completed  his 
education  in  Germany,  and  at  present  has  charge  of  the  large  high 
school  in  Honesdale,  Pennsylvania ;  he  married  Clara  Bonneville,  of 
Pocomoke  City,  Pennsylvania.  Jennie,  1876;  died  when  only  three 
years  of  age.  Eva  B.,  1884,  has  just  completed  her  studies  at  the  high 
school  and  makes  her  home  w^ith  her  parents.  The  family  are  much 
respected  and  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  305 


ARTHUR  \\\  PLUMB. 


That  delightful  summer  hotel,  The  Maplewood,  Pittsheld.  the  crea- 
tion of  Arthur  W.  Plumb,  is  in  its  large  and  ever  increasing  patronage 
of  a  fastidious  clientele  a  most  elocjuent  tribute  to  his  genius  as  a  host. 
When  less  than  twenty  years  ago  he  leased  the  premises  formerly  occu- 
pied as  the  Maplewood  School  for  Girls,  with  a  view  to  the  conversion 
of  the  dismantled,  long  disused  and  seriously  impaired  structure  into  a 
summer  hotel,  there  were  many  to  predict  failure  for  and  few  to  encour- 
age him  in  the  enterprise.  The  ambitious  young  gentleman  was  fortun- 
ately not  to  be  dissuaded  from  his  purpose  and  by  dint  of  industry  and 
a  natural  capacity  for  the  business  which  developed  as  the  responsibili- 
ties increased,  has  realized  his  most  sanguine  expectations.  Mr.  Plumb 
is  one  of  that  large  group  of  valuable  men  of  western  Massachusetts 
wdiose  ancestors  were  among  the  early  English  settlers  of  New  Eng- 
land. 

The  genealogist  of  the  Plumb  family  states  that  the  first  of  the  name 
is  found  on  the  "  Great  Roll  of  Normandy,"  in  1180,  and  the  name  ap- 
pears, in  1274,  in  Somerset,  Herts,  Norfolk,  and  six  of  the  name  in 
Cambridge.  There  is  a  Plumb  coat  of  arms  described  as  follows :  Er- 
mine, a  bend  vair  or,  and  gules  cottised  vert.  Crest.  Eng.  Out  of  a 
ducal  coronet  or,  a  plume  of  ostrich  feathers,  argent.  The  English 
ancestor  from  whom  the  immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs  is  lineally 
descended  was 

George  Plumb,  of  Neworth,  County  Essex,  England,  who  married 

first,  Grace ,  and  second,  Sarah .     His  parentage  has 

not  been  ascertained.  His  will,  July  25,  1667,  proved  July  18.  1670, 
named  wife  Grace  and  sons  John  and  Timothy,  cutting  off  the  former 


306  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

with  a  shilling.  When  he  died  he  left  a  widow  Sarah.  His  first  child 
by  his  first  wife  was 

John  Plumbe,  born  in  England,  in  1634,  died  about  1696,  married, 
probably  about  1662,  Elizabeth  Green,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Jane 
(Bainbridge)  Green.  He  was  in  Hartford  in  1663,  and  in  New  London, 
Connecticut,  in  1678.  One  of  his  letters  may  be  found  in  the  "  Win- 
throp  Papers,"  of  date  of  1665,  ^^d  he  is  mentioned  in  1696.  He  had 
seven  children  and  perhaps  more.     His  second  ch.ild  was 

Samuel  Plumbe,  born  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1670,  died  in 
Mil  ford,  Connecticut,  in  May,  1728,  married,  probably  in  the  year  1693, 
Mehitable  Hinde.  When  a  child  his  parents  removed  to  New  London, 
Connecticut,  but  subsequently  he  located  in  Milford,  Connecticut,  where 
he  resided  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  tombstone  is  still  stand- 
ing in  one  of  the  cemeteries  of  that  tow^i.  He  was  the  father  of  nine 
children,  and  the  fifth  was 

Ebenezer  Plumb,  born  in  Milford,  Connecticut,  March  25,  1705, 
died  in  Guilford.  Connecticut,  September  13,  1759.  In  the  town  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  November  13,  1737,  he  was  married  to  Patience 
Nails,  of  Guilford.  He  settled  in  Guilford,  Connecticut,  as  early  as  1730, 
and  in  that  place  he  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of  ten  children.  The 
third  was 

Ebenezer  Plumb,  born  in  Guilford,  Connecticut,  August  5,  1739, 
died  in  Stockbridge.  Massachusetts,  April   17.    182 1.     He  was  married 

about  the  year  1765,  to  Mary  .     He  settled  in  Stockbridge  or 

Richmond,  Massachusetts,  before  1777.  as  he  enlisted  as  a  Revolution- 
ary soldier  July  17,  1777,  from  Berkshire  county.  The  records  of  the 
Stockbridge  church  show  his  admission,  September  27,  1795,  from 
Richmond.     His  family  consisted  of  twelve  children.     The  seventh  was 

Luther  Plumb,  born  in  Richmond,  Massachusetts,  in  1778,  died  in 


•       BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  307 

Albany,  New  York,  November  23,  1831.  He  married,  November  4, 
1808,  Mary  Fairchikl,  who  died.  He  married  for  his  second  wife,  at 
West  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  September  3,  18 14,  Lydia  Hemp- 
stead, of  West  Stockbridge.  His  residence  was  recorded  in  the  town 
of  Stockbridge  in  1808,  but  in  1814  he  settled  in  Albany,  New  York. 
His  second  wife  bore  him  seven  children.     The  third  was 

Henry  L.  Plumb,  born  September  28,  1820.  He  married,  about 
1846,  Sarah  Stuart,  who  died.  On  January  16,  1850,  at  Albany,  New 
York,  he  married  Frances  Seymour,  daughter  of  Seth  Seymour,  of 
Stockbridge.  His  first  wife  bore  him  one  son,  Charles  Stuart  Plumb, 
and  by  the  second  marriage  he  was  the  father  of  two  children,  the  first 
of  whom  was 

Avthur  W.  Plumb,  born  in  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  April  18, 
1853,  cirnpleted  his  schooling  at  Williams  Academy,  Stockbridge,  where 
he  foimd  his  first  employment  in  the  grocery  store  of  which  his  father 
was  the  proprietor.  In  1874  h.e  went  "to  New  York  city  and  was  there 
^'f^&i^R^'^^^-  ^^^'  ^"^'^  years  in  a  commission  house.  The  years  1880  and 
1881  found  him  interested  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  in  the  manufacture  of 
gas  stoves.  Returning  to  Stockbridge  in  the  fall  of  1881,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  his  uncle,  Charles  H.  Plumb,  proprietor  of  the  old 
"  Stockbridge  House  ''  which  as  "  Plumb's  Hotel  "  was  one  of  the  most 
famous  and  successful  of  the  hostelries  of  the  Berkshire  Hill  country. 
It  is  now  known  as  "  The  Red  Lion  Inn."  Five  years  of  such  associa- 
tion by  an  oljservant.  enterprising  and  ambitious  man  resulted  in  Mr. 
Plumb's  ample  ecpjinment,  as  the  results  proved,  to  undertake  the  es- 
tablishment in  ]886  of  The  Maplewood,  as  hereinbefore  narrated. 
Another  n;(^st  successful  hotel  venture  of  Mr.  Phimb  is  his  joint  pro- 
prietorsliip  with  Mr.  George  W.  Clark,  under  the  firm  name  of  Plumb 


308  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

&  Clark,  of  The  New  American  Hotel,  generally  recognized  as  one  of 
the  iDest  commercial  houses  in  New  England. 

Mr.  Plumb's  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Republican  party  which 
he  has  served  as  delegate  to  numerous  conventions  and  as  executive 
con'mitteet^:an  in  several  campaigns.  He  served  acceptably  as  a  mem- 
ber from  Ward  Six  of  the  board  of  aldermen,  of  Pittsfield.  In  1905 
he  was  his  party's  nominee  for  the  office  of  county  commissioner,  and 
was  elected  by  a  vote  that  led  his  ticket  in  both  county  and  county  seat. 
He  is  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  vice-president  of  the  City  Savings 
Bank,  of  Pittsfield. 

He  married.  January  12,  1897,  Nellie,  daughter  of  Oliver  Duprey, 
of  KeeseviHe,  Essex  county.  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plumb  have  a 
daughter  Frances  J.  born  October  12,  1897. 

WILLIAM  HORACE  COLEMAN. 

William  Horace  Coleman,  one  of  the  pioneer  builders  of  Berk- 
shire county,  was  born  in  Cheshire,  Massachusetts,  in  1827,  a  son  of 
Rufus  and  Wealthy  (Russell)  Coleman,  of  Stephentown,  New  York, 
who  were  descendants  in  the  third  generation  from  William  Coleman, 
of  England.  The  family  owned  a  large  and  prosperous  farm  in  Ste- 
phentown, and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coleman  gave  their  children  the  best 
educational  advantages  obtainable  in  the  schools  of  that  early  day.  The 
family  subsequently  moved  to  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Cheshire.  The  members  of  the  family 
were  ambitious  and  active,  and  being  endowed  with  clear  judgment 
and  keen  foresight,  they  sought  to  make  the  world  as  comfortable  an 
abiding  place  as  was  possible.  Rufus  Coleman,  a  brother  of  William 
H.  Coleman,  was  ordained  to  the  ministry. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  309 

William  H.  Coleman  removed  from  his  native  town,  Cheshire,  to 
Adams,  where  he  resided  nntil  1880,  in  which  year  he  located  in  Pitts- 
field  and  there  continued  to  carry  on  his  trade  of  a  building  contractor. 
He  erected  many  dwelling  houses  during  the  most  progressive  period 
in  the  history  of  the  city  of  Pittsfield,  and  being  of  a  prudent  and  care- 
ful disposition  accumulated  quite  a  sum  of  money,  which  he  invested 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring  him  in  a  substantial  income  for  his  de- 
clining years.  Whatever  he  undertook  to  do  he  did  well,  and  this  fact 
hampered  him  to  some  extent  in  undertaking  what  he  was  doubtful 
about  being  able  to  accomplish  to  his  own  satisfaction.  He  devoted 
considerable  time  to  reading  good  literature,  was  well  informed  on  a 
variety  of  subjects,  and  never  let  an  opportunity  pass  for  bettering  his 
own  condition  or  placing  his  family  on  a  higher  social  plane.  He  was 
an  earnest  worker  in  the  Methodist  denomination,  and  manifested  great 
interest  in  Sunday  school  work.  He  was  a  staunch  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  never  could  be  induced  to  aspire  to  public  office.  He  belonged 
to  no  secret  societies,  preferring  to  spend  his  leisure  time  with  his  fam- 
ily. In  1853  ^^^-  Coleman  was  married  to  Sarah  Brown,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Clarissa  (Cowen)  Brown,  of  Lanesboro,  Massachusetts. 
The  Cowen  family  were  of  old  Rhode  Island  stock,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  resided  in  Cheshire,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Coleman  died  at 
his  home  in  Pittsfield,  September  29,  1901,  mourned  not  only  by  his 
relatives  but  by  a  large  circle  of  intimate  friends.  His  widow  and  son 
survive  him.  The  former  resides  at  her  hom.e  in  Tyler  street,  Pitts- 
field, Massachusetts.  The  latter,  George  L.  Coleman,  has  forsaken  the 
county  of  his  birth  and  now  makes  his  home  in  Springfield,  Massa- 
chusetts. 


310  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

LOUIS    ALBERT    MERCHANT. 

Although  ah'en  to  Massachusetts  soil  the  gentleman  whose  name  in- 
troduces these  memoirs  is  second  to  none  in  fidelity  to  the  interests  of 
Pittsfield,  the  home  of  his  adoption.  He  was  born  in  Amenia,  New 
Yoik,  January  i8,  i860,  son  of  the  late  Albert  and  Ellen  J.  (Watroiis) 
Merchant.  Albert  Merchant  was  born  March  4,  1820,  in  Sharon, 
Litchfield  county.  Connecticut,  married  Ellen  J.  Watrous,  and  died  in 
Amenia,  New  York,  in  1874.  His  father,  Ager  Merchant,  who  was  a 
native  of  Sherman.  Connecticut,  rlied  at  Sharon,  Connecticut.  Ager 
Merchant  married  Sally  Downs  born  at  Sherman,  Connecticut,  in  1790, 
died  at  Amenia,  New  York.  December  24,  1873.  Ellen  J.  (Watrous) 
Merchant,  born  Bennington,  A^ermont,  January  i,  1823,  was  a  daughter 
of  Handley  Bushnell  ^^^atrous  who  was.  born  in  Saybrooke,  Connecticut, 
November  12,  1794,  and  died  in  Washington  Hollow,  New  York,  in 
1838.  His  wife  was  Huldah  Kellogg  Gillette.  The  general  education 
of  Louis  Albert'  Merchant  completed  at  Amenia  Seminary,  he  took  a 
sboit  business  course  at  a  commercial  college,  Pittsfield,  where  in  1878 
he  found  his  first  employmient  as  bookkeeper  in  the  china,  glass  and 
qu^ensware  establishment  of  A.  A.  Mills  &  Company.- 

Failing  health  led  to  his  resignation  of  this  position.  Seeking  re- 
cuperation and  employment  in  the  oil  district  of  McKean  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, he  was  soon  restored  to  normal  health.  In  1879  h^  visited 
New  York  city,  and  A\'hile  there  took  up  telegraphy  as  a  pastime,  but 
applying  himself  to  such  good  purpose  as  enabled  him  to  secure  a  posi- 
tion as  operator  with  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  upon  his 
return  to  Pittsfield.  In  188 1  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  freight  de- 
partment of  the  Housatonic  Railroad  Company  at  Pittsfield,  incident  to 
which  he  liad  charge  of  that  company's  local  telegraph  ofiice.     He  was 


.^rj^^r^  04  /y^^^.^.^^^*^^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  ?»11 

subsequently  at  various  times  in  the  employ  at  Pittsfield  of  the  Boston 
and  Albany  Railroad  in  both  passenger  and  freight  offices  and  as  teleg- 
rapher. He  was  also  bookkeeper  for  a  period  of  the  Pittsfield  Trans- 
portation Company  and  clerked  one  summer  at  Columbia  Hall  and  an- 
other at  the  Maplewood  summer  hotel,  Pittsfield. 

In  1893  he  was  appointed  inspector  for  the  New  England  Insurance 
Exchange,  covering  central  Berkshire  county,  and  was  elected  to  the 
secretaryship  of  Pittsfield  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters.  In  the  same 
year  also  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  office  of  the  Berkshire  Life  In- 
surance Company,  at  Pittsfield,  and  two  years  later  (1895)  was  pro- 
m.oted  to  the  cashiership,  of  which  he  is  still  the  incumbent.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  and  since  its  incorporation  president  of  the  Pitts- 
field co-operative  store,  located  on  Columbus  avenue. 

On  January  i,  1903,  in  association  with  Mr.  Harry  E.  Jeffers,  Mr. 
Merchant  purchased  the  automobile  station  established  at  Pittsfield  by 
Dr.  O.  S.  Roberts  and  continued  in  successful  conduct  of  the  business 
as  a  partnership  until  April  i,  1905,  when  the  stock  company  was 
formed  with  Mr.  Franklin  ^^>ston,  president,  and  Mr.  Merchant,  treas- 
urer. Mr.  Merchant  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Berkshire  Automobile  Club.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  New  England  Order  of  Protection  and 
B.  P.  O.  E. 

He  is  Republican  in  political  affiliation,  lias  served  as  delegate  to 
municipal,  county  and  state  conventions ;  for  two  terms  representing 
ward  seven  in  Pittsfield  city  council,  an.d  is  now  (1905)  serving  his  sec- 
ond term  in  that  body  as  the  representative  from  the  sixth  ward.  He 
has  the  gratifying  distinction  of  being  the  only  Republican  ever  elected 
to  the  cit\  council  from  the  sixth  ward.  His  councilmanic  service  has 
been   honest  and  effixient,   his  fire   department  committee   work  having 


312  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

been  especially  valuable  to  tbe  municipality  on  account  of  his  broad 
education  along  the  lines  of  fire  insurance.  He  is  also  on  the  salaries 
and  finance  committees. 

Mr.  Merchant  married,  May  7,  1884.  Kate,  daughter  of  Hezekiah 
S.  Russell,  whose  personal  and  genealogical  memoirs  are  herein  con- 
tained. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merchant  have  lost  a  son.  Albert,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  have  a  daughter,  Alice  R.  Merchant.  The  family  reside 
at  42  Linden  street,  and  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


EDGERTON  E.  DODGE. 

Edgerton  Ellis  Dodge,  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease  ( 1904)  pro- 
prietor of  the  extensive  and  elegantly  appointed  Maplewood  Livery 
Stables,  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  was  a  descendant  in  the  ninth  gen- 
eration from  English  ancestors  of  the  early  colonial  period.  The  found- 
er of  the  Dodge  family  in  America  was : 

Richard  Dodge,  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  probably  about 
1602;  died  at  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  June  15,  1671.  He  married,  in 
England,  Edith  (name  unknown),  who  died  June  27,  1678,  aged 
seventy-five.  Richard  Dodge  was  a  son  of  John  and  Margery  Dodge. 
He  came  to  this  country  in  1638,  and  at  first  lived  on  land  belonging 
to  his  brother  William,  who  had  come  over  in  1629.  He  settled  on 
Dodge  Row,  in  North  Beverly,  not  far  east  of  Wenham  Lake,  and  his 
house  stood  near  the  present  south  line  of  Beverly.  In  1653  his  name 
headed  a  list  of  twenty-one  subscribers  to  Harvard  College,  the  next 
largest  donor  contributing  onl}^  one-fourth  as  much  as  he.  He  also 
dedicated  a  part  of  his  land  for  a  burying  ground,  and  it  is  now  known 
as  "  tlie  cemetery  on  Dodge  Row."  He  left  an  estate  of  £1,764  2S, 
and  he  gave  farms  to  three  of  his  sons  and  the  homestead  to  the  other 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  313 

two.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  church  in  Wenham  before 
1648.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  several  of  whom  were 
born  in  England,  as  shown  by  the  parish  records  of  East  Coker,  Somer- 
setshire.    The  fourth  in  his  family  was 

Richard  Dodge  (2),  born  in  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  1643,  died 
in  Wenham,  April  13,  1705.  He  married,  February  23,  1667,  Mary 
Eaton,  born  1641,  died  November  28,  17 16,  aged  seventy-five  years. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  the  south  part  of  Wenham,  and  owned  a 
large  farm  in  Ipswich,  which  he  gave  to  his  eldest  son  Richard,  to  whom 
he  also  gave  his  negro  man,  Mingo,  about  two  years  before  his  death, 
when  he  made  division  of  his  property  among  his  children.  He  and  his 
wife  were  both  buried  at  North  Beverly,  where  their  gravestones  still 
may  be  seen.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom  the 
eldest  was 

Richard  Dodge  (3),  born  in  Wenham,  July  12,  1670,  died  at 
Ipswich,  July  7,  1739.  He  married,  November  16,  1694,  Martha  Low, 
died  aged  sixty-eight  years  and  nine  months,  daughter  of  Deacon 
Thomas  Low,  of  Chebacco,  in  Ipswich.  Both  were  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  in  Dodge  Row.  He  received  the  farm  on  which  he  lived,  by 
deed  from  his  father,  December  i,  1703,  and  his  negro  man,  as  before 
mentioned.     Of  his  eight  children  the  youngest  was 

Richard  Dodge  (4),  born  probably  in  Hamlet  parish,  in  171 1  or 
1 7 12,  died  in  Sutton,  Massachusetts,  about  1776.  His  banns  of  mar- 
riage with  Sarah  Tuttle  were  published  August  16,  1734.  He  sold  his 
land  in  Ipswich  in  1759,  and  bought  one  hundred  acres  in  Sutton,  a 
little  later  buying  two  hundred  acres  partly  in  Sutton  and  partly  in 
Uxbridge.     Among  his  nine  children  was 

Richard  Dodge  (5),  born  in  Hamlet  parish,  Ipswich,  probably 
about   1750,   died  November  25,    1833,   aged  about  eighty-three  years. 


314  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

He  married,  July  19,  1770,  Lois  Lune,  of  Sutton,  born  1752,  died  Sep- 
tember 7,  18 12,  aged  sixty  years.  They  were  buried  in  Croydon,  New 
Hampshire,  where  they  had  gone  to  make  their  home  with  a  son.  The 
gravestone  gives  the  age  of  Mr.  Dodge  as  eighty-one  years  and  eight 
months.  In  1776  Richard  Dodge  bought  the  interest  of  his  brother  and 
sister  in  the  paternal  estate,  and  probably  lived  there  until  he  removed 
to  Croydon,  although  a  mortgage  in  1787  (discharged  in  18 13)  was 
given  by  Richard  and  Lois  "  of  Charlton." 

Freeman  Dodge  (7),  born  in  Croydon,  New  Hampshire,  February 
17,  18091,  died  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  January  15,  1886.  He 
married,  at  Troy,  New  York,  Candace  Stockwell,  of  Croydon,  New 
Hampshire.  He  was  a  policeman  in  Troy,  New  York,  and  \\'ent  from 
there  to  Palmer,  Massachusetts,  later  removing  to  Pittsfield,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  a  meat  business.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church  for  several  years.     The  youngest  of  his  two^  children  was 

Freeman  Morgan  Dodge  (8),  born  in  Milton,  New  York,  August 
22,  1840.  He  married,  in  Palmer,  Massachusetts,  Adelaide  Witt,  born 
at  Tliree  Rivers,  Massachusetts,  October  22,  1845,  adopted  daughter  of 
the  late  John  B.  Squier,  a  leading'  manufacturer  of  Palmer.  Mr.  Dodge 
is  a  trainer  of  horses  at  Pleasure  Park,  near  Pittsfield.  The  children 
of  Mr.  Dodge,  all  born  in  Palmer,  are:  i.  Everett  Morgan,  born  June 
22,  1864;  married,  June  16,  1886,  Nellie  Irene  Gilbert,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  (Ingraliam)  Gilbert.  He  has  been  a  trainer  on  the 
Allen  farm  in  Pittsfield,  but  is  now  (1903)  clerk  at  the  New  American 
House  in  the  same  city.  Mrs.  Dodge  has  been  for  several  years  a 
leading  contralto  sing^er  and  prominent  in  musical  circles.  2.  Edger- 
ton  Ellis,  to  be  further  mentioned.  3.  Fanny  Louise,  born  March  17, 
1869,  married  October  13,  1890,  to  Fred  D.  Sprague,  of  Pittsfield.  Chil- 
dren:     Miriam,  born  August  22,  1891 ;  Murray,  born  August  26,  1896. 


yi  /}7-trvi^-i^ 


Tl'.e  LeuiS  FiMishin^  Co. 


BERKSHIRE  CO  UNTY  3 1 5 

4.  Arthur  Freeman,  born  September  17,  1870.  He  was  formerly  as- 
sistant to  his  father  at  Pleasure  Park,  and  is  now  engaged  in  harness 
and  saddle  manufacturing  with  his  father-in-law,  John  Smith,  in  Pitts- 
field. 

Edgerton  Ellis  Dodge  (9),  second  son  and  child  of  Freeman  M. 
Dodge,  was  born  November  23,  1865.  He  was  a  trainer  of  horses  on 
Mr.  Forbes'  Fatherland  Farm,  at  B}field,  Massachusetts.  Subsequently 
he  was  employed  in  the  same  capacity  with  C.  W.  Wheeler,  at  Orange, 
Massachusetts,  and  still  later  had  charge  of  the  stock  for  William  Pol- 
lock, at  Pittsfield.  From  1896  until  his  decease  in  1904  he  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  extensive  Maplewood  Livery  Stables. 

Mr.  Dodge  vvas  married,  November  26,  189 1,  to  Miss  Katherine 
Irene,  daughter  of  the  late  Bruce  Humphreyville,  a  fanner  of  Lanes- 
boro.  Their  children  are  Freeman  Forbes,  born  December  23,  1892, 
and  Helen  Dodge,  born  May  22,  1896. 


CHARLES    NYE   DROWNE. 

Among  the  important  business  interests  of  Pittsfield  is  the  Berk- 
sliire  Manufacturing  Company,  the  outgrowth  of  a  small  business  es- 
tablished in  1879  by  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these 
memoirs  and  who  is  one  of  the  considerable  stockholders  of  the  com- 
pany named.  He  was  born  in  Lee,  Massachusetts,  August  16,  1854, 
son  of  the  late  Reuben  Olmsted  and  ]\Iartha  Peabody  (Buckley)  Drowne. 
He  is  a  descendant  of  an  early  Welsh  settler  of  the  colonies. 

Leonard  Drowne,  the  founder  of  the  American  family  of  that 
name,  was  born  in  1646  and  when  a  young  man  came  to  America,  locat- 
ing  in    Boston,    Massachusetts.      He    married    Elizabeth,    daughter   of 


316  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Richard  Abbott,  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire.  He  died  October  31, 
1729;  his  wife  May  5,  1706.     Of  their  children 

Simeon  Drowne  was  lx)rn  April  9,  1686,  lived  in  Boston,,  where 
he  followed  the  trade  of  shipwright,  died  August  2,  1734,  and  is  buried 
at  Copp's  Hill.  He  married  Mary  Paine,  born  June  8,  1683,  daughter 
of  Hon.  Colonel  Nathaniel  and  Dorothy  (Rainsford)  Paine,  of  Bristol, 
Rhode  Island.     The  only  son  of  Simeon  and  Mary  (Paine)  Drowne  was 

Jonathan  Drowne,  born  in  171 1.  married,  July  27,  1732,  Sarah 
Kent,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Toogood)  Kent,  born  October 
17,  171 1.  The  first  authentic  records  of  this  couple  are  found  at  Bris- 
tol, Rhode  Island.  They  were  of  strong  religious  faith  and  believed  in 
the  doctrines  preached  by  Elder  Wight.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children.  Captain  Jonathan  Drowne  died  a  short  time  prior  to  June  24, 
1757,  the  date  of  the  record  of  her  power  of  attorney  by  his  widow.  She 
married,  October  11,  1759,  in  Rehoboth,  James  Smith,  of  Warren,  who 
is  described  as  a  "  gentleman  of  high  character  and  much  esteemed." 
He  died  in  Barrington,  April  3,  1774,  and  his  widow  subsequently  and 
until  her  decease,  October  8,  1777,  lived  with  her  son  Nathaniel  Drowne 
in  Rehoboth,  where  her  remains  lie.  The  stones  marking  her  grave  are 
still  intact  and  the  headstone  bears  this  quaint  inscription : 

"  Beneath  this  ston  Deaths 

Prisoner  Lies 
The  ston  shall  move  the 

Prisoner  rise 
When  Jesus  withs 

Almity  word 
Calls  his  dead  saints 

To  meet  their  Lord." 

Of  her  sons  by  Captain  Jonathan  Drowne  three  were  soldiers  in  the 
Patriot  army  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  viz.  :  Nathaniel,  Frederick 
and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  3 IT 

Jonathan  Drowne  (II),  born  May  5,  1745;  died  in  1808;  married, 
Janiiar}^  21,  1770,  Sarah  ^Mleeler,  daughter  of  Valentine  and  Sarah 
Wheeler,  born  September  14.  1749;  died  June  7,  1841.  Jonathan  Drowne 
(II),  was  an  able  man,  honest  and  steadfast.  "He  believed  in  liberty 
and  gave  the  best  portion  of  his  life  to  the  colonial  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence." He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Lexington,  April  19,  1775, 
serving  as  captain,  and  at  Bunker  Hill,  June  17,  1775,  where  he  ranked 
as  paymaster.  Certified  abstracts  of  his  Revolutionarv^  war  service  from 
the  office  of  the  secretary  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  are  as 
follows :  "  Jonathan  Drowne,  appears  with  rank  of  lieutenant  on  com- 
pany returns  of  Captain  Keith's  Company.  Colonel  Sargent's  regiment, 
dated  AugTist  16,  1775.  Enlisted  July  9,  1775 — residence  Rehoboth." 
"  Jonathan  Drowne :  appears  with  rank  of  lieutenant  on  company  returns 
of  Captain  Keith's  Company,  Colonel  Sargent's  regiment — probably  Oc- 
tober returns  1775.  Residence  Rehoboth."  "Jonathan  Drowne:  appears 
with  rank  of  first  lieutenant  on  muster  and  pay-roll  of  Captain  James 
Perry's  Company,  i6th  Regt. ;  enlisted  January  i,  1776."  "Jonathan 
DroAvne :  appears  with  rank  of  captain  on  Continental  army  pay  accounts 
Col.  Henry  Jackson's  Regiment,  for  services  from  January  i,  1777,  to 
October  5,    1778 — residence,   Rehoboth;  returns  dated  Pawtuxet,   Sept. 

19.  ^77^- 

"(Signed)  Jonathan  Drowne."'' 

Of  the  children  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  (Wheeler)  Drowne 
Anah  Drowne  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  August  i,  1782;  died  Janu- 
ary 21,   1858;  married  Ruth  Olmsted.     Of  the  children  of  Anah  and 
Ruth  (Olmsted)   Drowne  was 

Reuben  Olmsted  Drowne,  who  was  born  in  Canaan,  New  York, 
lanuary  5.  1820.  and  died  January  12,  1892.  He  was  educated  in  his 
native  place  where  he  became  one  of  the  leading  stockholders  of  its  prin- 


318  -  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

cipal  industry,  the  Canaan  Paper  Company.  His  wife,  IMartha  Pea- 
body  Buckley,  born  April  9,  1822,  was  a  daughter  of  James  Buckley, 
for  many  years  in  the  employ  of  Plattner  &  Smith,  founders  of  the 
Smith  Paper  Company,  of  Lee,  Massachusetts,  and  whose  wife  Clarissa 
(Rodgers)  Buckley,  died  December  22,  1855.  Mrs.  Reuben  O.  Drowne 
died  Octoter  9,  1893.     Of  her  children 

Charles  Nye  Drowne,  introduced  in  the  opening  lines  of  these  me- 
moirs, was  educated  in  Canaan,  New  York,  and  in  1874  came  to  Pittsficld 
and  in  1878  established  a  modest  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  overalls, 
pantaloons,  etc.  His  success  inspired  him  to  seek  larger  manufacturing 
facilities,  and  to  accomplish  this  end  the  Berkshire  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  with  John  S.  Wolfe,  president ;  George  W.  Pease, 
treasurer,  and  Messrs.  George  H.  Bliss  and  Charles  N.  Drowne,  direc- 
tors. The  original  line  of  manufactures  was  continued  by  the  company 
for  a  period  of  about  ten  years,  since  which  time  pantaloons  alone  has 
been  its  product.  The  growth  of  the  business  warranting  enlarged  in- 
vestment, the  capital  stock  was  increased  in  1898,  Messrs.  E.  H.  Robbins 
and  W.  W.  Gamwell  of  Pittsfield  nurchasing  the  company's  additional 
stock.  The  present  output  of  the  plant  is  many  times  in  excess  of  the 
original  product,  indicating  it  as  one  of  the  substantial  business  suc- 
cesses of  Pittsfield.  Mr.  Drowne  married,  December  15,  1886,  Fanny  E., 
daughter  of  the  late  George  E.  Royce,  of  Rutland,  Vermont.  Their 
children  are  Royce  Carver  Drowne,  born  October  15,  1887;  Brewer 
Campbell  Drowne,  born  June  7,  1894;  and  Fanny  Olmsted  Drowne,  born 
October  12,  1896.  Mr.  Drowne  is  a  Democrat  in  political  affiliation,  and 
a  memljer  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Massachusetts  Society  Sons  of 
the  American  Revolution,  and  of  Berkshire  Cb'-inter. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  319 

HENRY  C.  BENZ. 

Henry  C.  Benz,  a  prominent  business  man  of  Pittsfield  Massa- 
chusetts, was  born  in  Metzinger,  Germany,  April  6,  1828,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1854,  locating  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  His  father 
was  a  man  of  education  and  culture,  and  a  public-spirited,  patriotic 
citizen  of  his  native  town. 

He  secured  a  position  with  the  Pontoosuc  Woolen  Company,  then 
managed  by  the  late  Thaddeus  Clapp.  and  for  eighteen  years  was  gen- 
eral overseer  of  the  mill.      He   invented  the  manufacture  of  Balmoral 
skirts  and  carriage  lap  robes.     At  that  time  about  one  hundred  hand 
looms  were  in  operation  at  this  mill.     In   1872  Mr.   Benz  went  to  An- 
sonia,  Connecticut,  where  he  became  associated  with  the  Slade  Woolen 
Company,  having  charge  of  the  pressing  department,  and  this  position 
he  retained  for  four  years  thereafter,  then  returning  to  the  Pontoosuc 
Company.     He  remained  with  the  latter  until  1885,  when  he  purchased 
a  farm  on  the  Southeast  Mountain  road.     Mr.  Benz  then  gave  up  work 
in  the  mill  and  gave  his  entire  time  to  the  farm,  which  he  conducted 
very   successfully.      In   the  death   of   Henry   C.   Benz.   which    occurred 
November  7,  1904,  the  community  lost  an  honest,  upright,  industrious 
citizen,  and  his  family  a  kind  and  loving  father.     Henry  C.  Benz  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Maria  Stole,  a  native  of  Germany,   who 
died   March  26,    1899.      Of   this  union   the    following  named   children 
were  born:     Henry,  in  1855,  married  Bertha  Irons,  and  they  have  one 
child,  Edward,  who  resided  on  the  home  farm  for  a  short  period  of 
time  and  now  lives  in   Pittsfield;   Henry   married   a  second   time   and 
now  lives  in  Utica,  New  York.     John,  in  1863 ;  Charles,  in  1865.     The 
last  two  named  work  on  the  home  farm.     Ered  Jacob,  in  1869,  married, 
October  21,  1896,  Caroline  E.  Dewey,  daughter  of  Chauncey  and  Caro- 


320  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

line  Dewey,  a  member  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected families  in  Lenox ;  of  this  marriage  two  children  were  born : 
Frederick  D.,  August  24,  1898,  and  Marie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  Fred  Jacob  Benz  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  was 
deeply  and  actively  interested  in  the  affairs  of  that  organization.  He 
was  an  energetic,  up-to-date  young  farmer  and  assisted  very  materially 
in  the  improvement  of  the  farm.  He  was  stricken  suddenly  with  a 
fatal  disease,  and  on  February  28,  1905,  his  death  occurred,  and  he 
was  buried  on  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  the  day  the  family  took 
up  their  residence  on  the  farm.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Caroline  E.  Benz, 
makes  her  home  on  the  farm. 

SELDEN  DEMING  ANDREWS. 

A  significant  industry  of  the  county  seat,  the  Berkshire  Hardware 
Company,  ranking  among  the  leading  wholesale  and  retail  establish- 
ments of  its  kind  in  western  Massachusetts,  owes  its  proportions  in  large 
measure  to  the  industry  and  business  acumen  of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  introduces  this  narrative  and,  who,  as  the  subjoined  genealogical 
data  will  show,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  historic  families  of  west- 
ern Massachusetts. 

He  was  born  Februar}'  11,  1865,  in  Richmond,  Berkshire  county, 
son  of  Deming  Lewis  and  Sarah  (Werden)  Andrews,  the  former  also 
a  native  of  Richmond  and  the  latter  of  Connecticut.  Selden  Deming 
Andrews  completed  his  general  education  with  his  graduation  in  1881 
from  the  Pittsfield  high  school.  Immediately  thereafter  he  found  em- 
ployment in  the  hardware  establishment  of  a  brother-in-law,  Mr.  E. 
Williams,  a  one-half  interest  in  which  he  purchased  in  1898,  this  part- 
nership  association    continuing   to   conduct   an    increasingly   successful 


q)  ^    ,/0'"~txl.--t----i--c:^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  3l>1 

hardware  business.  Mr.  \\'illianis  (lispcisecl  of  liis  interest  therein  to 
Mr.  John  H.  Eells,  in  J 902,  and  it  has  since  1>een  conducted  under  the 
name  of  Berkshire  Hardware  Company,  Mr.  Eells  being  the  oi^ce  man- 
ager, and  Mr.  /Vndrews  general  manager.  Mr.  .Xndrews  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

ti&  married,  August  13,  1889,  Carrie,  daughter  of  Abraham  Volk. 
Their  children  are  Harold  Volk  Andrews,  born  June  9,  1892,  and  Ed- 
Avard  Deming  Andrews,  born  March  6,  1894.  The  famdy  reside  at  42 
Clinton  street,  with  summer  home  at  Richmond,  Berkshire  county,  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

The  Andrews  family  of  Berkshire  county  is  linealh-  descended  from 
John  Andrus  (or,  as  spelled  in  earliest  land  records,  Andrews,  a  spell- 
ing generally  adopted  by  his  posterity)  who  was  one  of  the  eighty-four 
jjroprietors  of  the  ancient  town  -of  Tunxis  (the  name  of  an  Indian  tribe), 
afterwards  "ffarmingtowne,"  now  Earmington,  Connecticut.  He  died 
in  i68t,  and  his  wife  Mary  in  May,  1694.  Of  their  children,  the  young- 
est was  Benjamin  Andrews,  who  was  married  thrice,  first  on  May  26, 
T682.  to  Mary  Smith,  who  died  in  January,  1707.      Her  eldest  son 

Benjamin  Andrews,  Jr..  born  August  20,  1683,  died  in  1729,  mar- 
ried December  6,  171 1,  Elizabeth  Gridley,  born  at  Earmington,  Con- 
necticut, October  20,  1693.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Clark)  Gridley,  who  were  constituent  members  of  Southington, 
Connecticut,  C<;ngregational  church. 

Jonathan  .Vndrews,  eldest  son  of  Benjamin,  Jr.,  and  Elizabeth 
(Gridley)  Andrews,  was  born  at  Southington.  Connecticut,  .Vpril  4. 
1715.  He  married  June  5.  1735.  Susannah  Andrews,  born  at  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  May  t2,  1718,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Abigail  (Turner) 
Andrews.  Both  Jonathan  Andrews  and  his  wife  were  admitted  to  the 
church  in  Southington,  October  19,   1735.     He  died  Decemljer  2,  1797, 


322  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  his  wife  February  6,  1809.  Jonathan  Andrews  was  in  1779  ap- 
pointed with  the  deacons  to  confer  with  Rev.  Robinson  to  agree  upon 
a  church  covenant,  confession  and  discipHne.     His  second  son 

Ozias  Andrews,  born  at  Southington,  Connecticut,  March  20,  1742; 
married  December  28,  1768,  Ann  Nott  (or  Knott)  of  Berhn,  Connecti- 
cut. They  settled  in  1781  in  Richmond,  Berkshire  county,  where  he 
became  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  had 
a  short  term  of  service  in  the  patriot  army  during  the  closing  years  of 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  died  in  April,  1812,  and  his  wife,  January 
24,  1839.     Of  their  children 

Jonathan  Andrews,  born  at  Richmond,  March  18,  1874,  married, 
January  16,  181 1,  a  lady  of  Canaan,  New  York,  Betsey  Rood,  born  in 
1788,  died  in  June,  1866.     Their  youngest  child 

Lewis  Deming  Andrews,  born  at  Richmond,  April  2,  1820,  and 
twice  man-ied,  first  in  1848  to  Rebecca  Barney,  who  died  two  years  later; 
second,  in  January,  1852,  to  Sarah  A.  Werden,  of  Richmond.  Four 
children  were  born  of  the  latter  marriage,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy; 
a  son,  Selden  Deming  Andrews,  the  immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs, 
and  a  daughter.  Elizabeth  Irene,  born  in  September,  1857,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Eleazer  Williams,  former  hardware  merchant  of  Pittsfield,  and 
has  four  children:     Florence;  Eleazer,  Jr.;  Henry  and  Elizabeth. 

ALMON  AUBREY  DESMOND. 

Almon  A.  Desmond,  a  prominent  and  leading  citizen  of  Pittsfield, 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born  in  the  year  1862, 
is  a  lineal  descendant  of  a  family  of  English  origin,  who  settled  in  New 
York  state  at  an  early  date.  His  parents  were  William  and  Phoebe 
(Mapes)    Desmond,    and    his   paternal   grandfather    was   William   Des- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  323 

mond,  a  mechanic  of  more  than  ordinary  abihty,  who  resided  with  his 
family  in  the  vicinity  of  Stephentown,   New  York. 

Wilham  Desmond  (father)  was  born  in  Stephentown,  New  York, 
in  1830.  He  received  the  meager  educational  advantages  afforded  by 
attendance  at  the  ungraded  schools  of  that  early  period,  and  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  years  was  bound  out  to  a  farmer.  During  this  period  of 
time  he  became  so  thoroughly  familiar  with  farming  in  all  its  details, 
and  it  proving  so  congenial  to  his  tastes,  he  decided  to  follow  that  line 
of  work  throughout  his  actiA'e  career.  He  drifted  from  New  York 
state  to  Massachusetts,  working  for  a  time  in  Hancock,  and  about  the 
year  1858  went  to  work  for  the  Stearns  family,  after  which  he  worked 
for  J.  P.  Clark,  of  West  Pittsfield,  and  for  a  number  of  years  there- 
after conducted  a  milk  business  on  his  own  account.  He  was  the  head 
farmer  for  the  Barker  Brothers,  of  Barkersville,  during  the  flourishing 
days  of  that  concern,  performing  his  work  in  a  highly  satisfactory  and 
efficient  manner.  During  his  residence  in  Berkshire  county,  Mr.  Des- 
mond has  witnessed  the  decline  of  the  villages  of  Barkersville  and 
Stearnsville,  which  at  one  time  was  the  ver}-  hive  of  industr}',  with  busi- 
ness booming  and  labor  in  great  demand,  but  at  the  present  time  ( 1904) 
it  is  so  different,  ruin  and  destruction  everywhere  and  the  empty  mills 
and  tenements  giving  it  the  look  of  abandonment.  William  Desmond 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Phoebe  Alapes,  of  West  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  the  following  named-  children  were  born  to  them :  Will- 
iam, 1858,  is  now  a  resident  of  Bristol,  Connecticut;  he  married  Amelia 
Beitzel,  of  Pittsfield,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children.  Almon 
Aubrey,  mentioned  hereinafter.  Sanford  L.,  1867,  a  resident  of  Pitts- 
field ;  he  married  Effie  Stickles,  and  tlu'ec  children  are  the  issue  of  this 
union.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Desmond  died  before  her  birth,  and  her 
mother  when  she  was  only  three  years  of  age,  and  thus  her  bringing  up 


824  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

^vas  entrusted  t(j  the  Shakers  of  West  Pittstield.  with  whom  she  resided 
until  she  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  Shakers  gave  her  a  good  edu- 
cation and  taught  her  such  things  in  the  early  years  of  her  life  as  to 
make  her  an  admired  girl,  a  devoted  and  heloved  wife  and  a  mother 
that  her  three  sons  are  proud  to  speak  of.  She  passed  away  in  1895, 
and  her  death  was  bemoaned  by  all  who  had  ever  come  in  contact  with 
her,  especially  was  she  missed  in  church  circles,  where  she  took  an  active 
and  keen  interest. 

Almon  A.  Desmond  accjuired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  and  this  was  supplemented  by  a  three  years'  course  at  the 
high  school.  \Mien  this  was  completed  his  father  g"ave  him  the  choice 
of  continuing  his  studies  or  learning  a  trade,  but  he  chose  the  latter, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  as  was  the  custom  with  the  majority  of 
boys  reared  in  that  town,  went  to  work  m  Barker  Brothers'  Woolen 
Mills,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of 
W^illiam  \A'hiting,  ex-mayor,  who  was  eng"aged  in  the  wholesale  station- 
ery business,  remaining  with  him  for  a  period  of  four  years.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  he  was  employed  at  the  woolen  business  in  Rockville, 
Connecticut,  after  which  the  longing  for  home  came  upon  him  and  he 
returned  to  Pittsfield,  securing  employment  with  Joseph  D.  Shearer  in 
the  stationery  business,  with  whom  he  remained  for  seven  years.  In 
1901  Mr.  Desmond  was  appointed  caretaker  of  the  high  school  of  Pitts- 
field,  which  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  structures  in  that  vicinity  of 
the  county,  and  the  citizens  of  Pittsfield,  especially  those  who  ha^'e  chil- 
dren attending  that  school,  are  to  be  congratulated  in  having  such  a 
trustworthy  official  on  duty.  In  1902  he  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  city  council,  and  for  several  terms  ser\ed  on  the  school  board  of 
Pittsfield.  He  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Royal  iVrcanum,  and  the  Daughters  of 


.&^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  325 

Pocahontas.  In  18S5  Mr.  Desmond  married  Mary  S.  Beitzel,  daughter 
of  John  and  Ameha  Beitzel.  a  liighly  respected  German  family  of  Pitts- 
field.  Then-  children  are :  Amy  Amelia,  born  1888,  in  Rockville, 
Connecticut,  and  Aubrey  Mordaunt,  liorn  1893,  in  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts. The  former  named  is  now  attending-  the  high  school  of  Pitts- 
field,  and  the  latter  is  a  student  in  the  grammar  school.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Pittsfield.  They  reside  in  a  com- 
fortable home  on  East  street,  where  the  utmost  hospitality  is  extended 
to  their  numerous  friends. 

JOHN  HENRY  EELLS. 

A  leading  merchant  of  Berkshire  county,  half-owner  of  the  Berk- 
shire Hardware  Company,  Pittsfield,  is  he  whose  name  is  the  caption  for 
this  article.  He  was  born  in  Lenox,  October  i.  1846,  son  of  the  late 
David  B.  and  Sarah  (\\'ells)  Eells,  both  natives  of  Berkshire  county, 
and  descendants  of  early  English  settlers  of  New  England. 

John  Eells,  founder  of  the  American  family  -of  this  name,  came 
from  England  in  1634.    Of  his  children 

Samuel  Eells,  who  was  born  June  23,  1639,  had  a  large  family, 
among  whom  was 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Eells,  born  November  26,  1677;  settled  at  Scituate. 
Massachusetts,  and  died  August  25,  1750.     Of  his  sons 

Rev.  Edward  Eells  was  horn  June  3,  1712,  or  1713,  settled  at  Mid- 
dletown,  Connecticut,  where  he  was  pastor  of  the  North  Society  from 
1738  until  his  decease,  October  12,  1776. 

An  amusing  incident  in  the  history  of  Rev.  John  Eells,  a  cousin  of 
Rev.  Edward  Eells,  which  is  in  sul)stance  contained  in  the  record  of  the 
clerk  of  the  Congregational  church  of  New  Canaan,  Connecticut.     It  nar- 


31^6  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

rates  that  upon  being  aroused  late  upon  a  stormy  night  by  a  couple  de- 
sirous of  being  married,  Rev.  Eells  appeared  at  a  window  opening  upon 
a  piazza  where  the  couple  stood  and  summarily  tied  the  knot  with  these 

words : 

"  Under  this  window  in  stormy  weather, 
I  join  this  man  and  woman  together. 
Let  none  but  Him  who  made  this  thunder 
E'er  part  these  married  two  asunder." 

The  dominie  then  remarked :  "  It  is  the  custom  to  offer  prayer,  but 
under  the  circumstances  we  will  dispense  with  that,"  then  adding,  ''  It 
is  also  the  custom  to  have  music,  but  that  will  be  omitted,"  and  after  a 
moment's  pause,  "  and  it  is  the  custom  also  to  kiss  the  bride,  but  that  will 
likewise  be  dispensed  with."  Here  the  new  made  Benedict  tucked  his 
bride  under  his  arm,  and  remarking  "  It  is  also  customary  to  fee  the 
parson,  but  under  the  circumstances  that  will  be  dispensed  with,"  disap- 
peared into  the  storm. 

John  Eells,  son  of  Rev.  Edward  Eells,  born  July  20,  1753,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  patriot  army  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  A  copy 
of  the  official  record  of  service  is  as  follows :  "  John  Eells,  Lanesboro, 
private,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Newell's  Co.,  Col.  Symond's  Regiment;  service 
21  days;  company  marched  from  Lanesboro  to  Manchester,  July  9,  1777, 
on  an  alarm;  also  same  company  and  regiment,  service,  six  days;  com- 
pany marched  fi-om  Lanesboro  on  an  alarm,  Aug.  14,  1777,  also  Lieu- 
tenant Joseph  Farnum's  Co.,  Col.  Benjamin  Symond's  regiment;  enlisted 
Sept.  5,  1777,  discharged  Sept.  30,  1777;  service  26  days.  Company 
marched  from  Lanesboro  to  P'awlet;  also  on  list  of  men  mustered  by 
Truman  Wheeler,  muster  master  for  Berkshire  county,  dated  Great 
Barrington,  June  5,  1778.  Residence,  Lanesboro;  term,  nine  months." 
Of  his  children 

John  Eells  born  in  Connecticut,  May  11,   1780,  located  in  Berk- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  3-27 

shire  county  with  his  parents,  and  died  October  17,  1826.  He  was  a 
farmer,  as  was  his  son,  who  died  July  30,  1879,  and  who  was  David  B. 
Eells,  father  of  the  immediate  subject  of  these  memoirs. 

John  H.  Eells  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Lenox  and  under  the 
tuition  of  George  P.  Bradley,  near  Stockbridge.  For  a  short  period 
thereafter  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  homestead  farm, 
and  from  1875  to  1880  was  in  the  employ  of  an  uncle,  Richard  P.  Eells, 
an  insurance  and  real  estate  agent  of  Nyack,  New  York.  Returning 
to  Berkshire  count}^  in  the  latter  year,  he  became  bookkeeper  for  the 
shoe  manufacturing  establishment  of  Robbins  &  Kellogg,  and  remained 
wdth  this  company  and  its  successors  until  the  shutting  down  of  the  plant 
in  1900.  A  short  period  of  service  as  tax  collector  of  Pittsfield  was  fol- 
lowed by  his  purchase  in  September,  1902,  of  Mr.  E.  Williams'  half- 
interest  of  the  hardware  business  on  North  street,  Pittsfield,  since  oper- 
ated under  the  name  of  the  Berkshire  Hardware  Company. 

Mr.  Eells  married,  October,  1892,  Harriet,  daughter  of  the  late 
Erastus  Parker,  of  Lenox.  Mr.  Eells  has  been  a  member  of  South  Con- 
gregational church,  Pittsfield,  since  1882,  one  of  its  board  of  deacons 
since  1894,  and  clerk  of  the  parish  since  1884.  ]\.[rs.  Eells  is  a  member 
of  St.  Stephen's  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  Pittsfield.  The  residence 
is  364  South  street. 

REV.  CLOVIS  N.  BAUDOLIN. 

The  French  Catholics  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  ha\"e  been  for- 
tunate in  having  appointed  to  attend  to  tlieir  spiritual  and  religious 
needs  the  Rev.  Clovis  N.  Baudouin,  who  since  he  has  come  among  them 
has  endeared  himself  to  them  in  an  extraordinar)-  degree.  He  was 
bom  in  the  village  of  Repentigny,  province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  in  the 
year  1854,  a  son  of  Pierre  and  Alargueritc  (Hetu)   Baudouin. 


?,!>S  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

The  family  were  among  tlie  earliest  French  settlers  that  came  from 
the  Fatherland  and  settled  in  the  Canadian  wilderness.  They  are  sup- 
posed to  have  come  from  the  district  of  Normandie,  France.  Among 
the  early  records  we  find  that  Gnillanme  Bandouin  was  a  settler  in  the 
village  of  Repentigny  as  early  as  170O'.  and  he  reared  his  family  in  that 
vicinity.  Among  his  descendants  was  Pierre  Bandouin,  aforementioned, 
who  hv  his  marriage  to  Marguerite  Hetu  became  the  father  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  Pierre,  born  1831,  now  deceased;  he  was  a 
practicing  physician  in  St.  Jean,  where  he  died.  Philibert,  born  1836, 
a  resident  of  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  is  engaged  as  notary.  Del- 
vina,  born  1841,  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  Joel,  born  1843, 
deceased ;  he  was  a  man  of  excellent  education  and  sound  judgment, 
and  his  entire  life  was  sperit  on  the  old  homestead.  Osina  Marguerite, 
born  1845.  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  La  Rose;  they  made  their  home 
in  St.  Paul,  Canada,  where  she  died.  Albert,  born  1848,  died  when 
only  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  in  the  sixth  year  of  his  college  course. 
Clovis  N.,  mentioned  at  length  in  the  following  paragraph. 

Clovis  N.  Bandouin  early  evinced  a  desire  to  extend  his  educa- 
tional advantages  as  far  as  possible,  and  at  twelve  years  of  age  entered 
L'Assomptinn  College,  \>here  he  pursued  the  full  course,  completing  the 
same  in  the  year  1876,  and  thus  he  ga\'e  the  best  years  of  his  life  in 
endeavoring  to  secure  the  knowledge  that  he  is  anxious  and  willing  to 
impart  to  all  people  who  come  in  contact  with  him.  After  his  gradua- 
tion from  L'Assomption  College  he  entered  Varennes  Seminary,  where 
he  pursued  his  studies  for  four  vears,  and  on  December  20,  1879,  he  was 
ordained  to  the  priesthood  in  Montreal.  The  following  two  years  he 
taught  French  literature  in  Varennes  College,  and  then  was  assigned 
to  assist  the  pastor  at  St.  John's,  Quebec,  where  he  labored  for  about 
two  years.      He  was  then  successively  assistant  pastor  in  St.   Paul  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  329 

Montreal,  in  1884  was  sent  to  North  Adams.  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, as  assistant  pastor,  and  in  1885  was  transferred  to  Ware, 
Massachusetts,  where  lie  Avas  located  for  aljout  one  year.  In  1886  he 
was  given  a  pastorate  at  Fitchhurg,  Massachusetts,  where  he  organized 
a  parish,  which  today  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  labor.  After  four 
years'  work  in  Fitc'hburg-  he  AAcnt  to  Indian  Orchard,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  spent  seven  years,  during  which  time  he  established  schools 
and  a  convent.  He  was  then  transferred  to  Williamstown,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  after  three  years  in  that  field  was  appointed  pastor  of  the 
Notre  Dame  church,  Pittsfieid.  Massachusetts,  assuming  charge  in 
Januar}',  1901,  this  house  of  worship  being  for  the  French  speaking 
residents  of  Pittsfieid.  Since  that  time,  a  period  of  almost  five  years, 
he  has  accomplished  remarkable  achie\'ements.  He  has  purchased  a 
parochial  residence  for  the  parish,  has  purchased  a  parcel  of  land  for 
school  purposes  on  Pearl  street,  \\hereon  will  be  erected  a  Catholic 
school  for  French  people  about  the  year  1906,  and  has  reduced  the 
church  debt  some  seven  thousand  dollars.  There  are  about  seventeen 
hundred  attendants  in  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  families,  all  of 
whom  are  faithful  and  conscientious  in  the  performance  of  their  duties, 
and  loyal  to  their  church,  and  the  work  done  by  Father  Baudouin  was 
successful.  During  the  past  }ears  he  has  had  an  assistant  in  the  per- 
son of  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Jacques.  Father  Baudouin  is  greatly  beloved  by 
his  parishioners  for  his  earnestness  and  untiring  labors  in  their  behalf. 

JOHN  SEELEY  .\DAMS. 
For  nearly  fifty  years  the  late  John  Seeley  Adams  was  closely  iden- 
tified \\\i\\  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Adams,  and  he  was  one  of 
the  most  ])rominent  factors  in  developing  the  natural   resources  of  that 
locality,  thus  bringing"  it  forward  tx)  the  position  of  importance  it  now 


330  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

occupies  in  the  industrial  world.  He  came  from  a  family  of  manufac- 
turers, being  a  son  of  Washington  and  Laura  (Seeley)  Adams,  and  is, 
therefore,  a  representative  of  two  well  known  western  Massachusetts 
families. 

Washington  Adams  came  from  Great  Barrington  to  Adams  about 
the  year  1852  and  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  of  cotton  warp,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Adams  &  Seeley,  which  erected  the  factory  and 
inaugurated  the  business  now  conducted  under  the  style  of  the  Adams 
Brothers  Manufacturing  Company.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Adams  in  his  day,  and  resided  here  for  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  Washington  and  Laura  (Seeley)  Adams  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  namely:  George  Washington,  John  Seeley,  Mar}^  Charles, 
Henry,  Frank  and  Ruth.  Of  these  the  only  one  now  living  is  Henry, 
who  resides  in  Adams. 

John  Seeley  Adams  was  born  at  Vandeusenville,  in  the  town  of 
Great  Barrington,  February  3,  1832.  He  attended  school  in  southern 
Berkshire  and  resided  there  until  the  removal  of  his  parents  to  Adams, 
and  as  a  young  man  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  father.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  entered  the  firm  which  became  known  as  Adams 
Brothers  and  Company,  the  partners  being  George  W.  and  John  S. 
Adams.  They  produced  large  quantities  of  cotton  warp  of  a  superior 
quality  which  is  extensively  used  in  the  textile  industries,  and  the  high 
standard  of  their  products  were  never  allowed  to  deteriorate,  thus  giv- 
ing them  a  prestige  in  the  market  which  has  been  steadily  maintained  to 
the  present  time.  The  business  expanded  into  such  large  proportions  as 
to  necessitate  the  superseding  of  the  individual  partnership  concern  by 
a  corporation,  which  was  duly  organized  as  the  Adams  Brothers  Manu- 
facturing Company,  and  John  S.  Adams  eventually  became  its  presi- 
dent, a  position  he  was  superabundantly  qualified  to  occupy.     He  con- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  331 

tinued  to  direct  the  affairs  of  the  concern  for  the  remainder  of  his  Hfe, 
and  his  business  career  was  marked  by  a  spirit  of  enterprise  and  opti- 
mism which  not  only  brought  substantial  profits  to  his  own  corporation, 
but  proved  exceedingly  beneficial  to  the  general  business  interests  of  the 
town.  In  politics  Mr.  Adams  acted  with  the  Republican  party  and  for 
two  terms  represented  the  third  Berkshire  district  in  the  lower  branch  of 
the  state  legislature,  serving-  with  credit  to  himself  and  his  constituency 
upon  several  important  committees.  He  also  served  the  town  of  Adams 
in  various  capacities,  notably  as  water  commissioner  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  for  a  period  of  six  years  in  succession  served  as  assessor 
without  political  opposition.  He  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
Masonic  order,  and  one  of  the  leading  members  of  St.  Mark's  (Protes- 
tant Episcopal)  church,  in  which  latter  he  was  for  many  years  the  senior 
warden;  was  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters  financially,  and  was  an- 
nually chosen  to  represent  it  in  the  diocesan  convention.  To  the  church 
as  well  as  to  his  other  trusts  he  gave  the  benefit  of  his  superior  business 
ability,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  September  13,  1903,  was  regarded 
as  an  irretrievable  loss  to  the  entire  community.  On  November  10,  1857, 
Mr.  Adams  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar-/  K^ing,  daughter 
of  Dr.  King,  a  well  known  Greek  missionary  of  his  <jat  VIrs.  Adams  is 
still  living,  as  are  also  their  three  children,  namely  \  Jfonn  S.,  Edith  S. 
and  Elizabeth. 

John  S.  Adams,  son  of  John  Seeley  and  Mary  (King)  Adams,  is 
a  native  of  Adams  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  town. 
At  the  conclusion  of  his  studies  he  entered  his  father's  factory  in  a  sub- 
ordinate  capacity  and  acquired  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  business  in 
all  of  its  details.  He  married  Miss  Frances  E.  Judd.  Their  children 
are :    Arthur  K.  and  Myrtle  Irene. 


332  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

WILLIAM  AUGUSTIN   DALY. 

William  Augustin  Daly,  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  is  an  excel- 
lent representative  of  that  class  of  men  who,  born  abroad,  came  to  the 
United  States  at  so  early  an  age  that,  while  he  preserved  his  national 
characteristics  of  energy,  industry  and  indomitable  resolution,  his  rear- 
ing Avas  distinctively  American,  and  when  he  came  to  enter  upon  his 
life's  career  it  w^as  with  ample  equipment  and  full  knowledge  of  the  con- 
ditions confronting  him  and  of  the  obstacles  to  be  conquered  in  the 
achievement  of  success. 

He  was  born  in  Dublin,  L'eland,  in  1833,  son  of  Joseph  A.  and 
Elizabeth  (Kennedy)  Daly.  The  father  was  a  woolen  weaver,  and  he 
followed  his  calling  in  Dublin,  where  he  married  and  where  his  children 
were  born.  The  woolen  industry  there  having  suffered  great  depression, 
he  sought  to  improve  his  condition  by  removing  with  his  family  to 
Leeds.  England.  Here,  however,  he  also  failed  to  find  sufficient  em- 
ployment and  after  an  arduous  struggle  of  nine  years  he  sailed  for  the 
United  States.  He  brought  with  him  a  strong  letter  of  recommenda- 
tion testifying  to  his  skill  as  a  workman  and  his  worth  as  a  man,  and 
soon  found  employment — New  York  City  was  'his  landing  place.  He 
labored  with  a  hearty  will  and  strong  determination,  having  as  his 
stimulus  the  hope  of  soon  sending  for  his  family.  In  the  course  of  two 
years  he  was  enabled  to  consummate  his  purpose,  and  in  1844  h's  wife 
and  family  of  children  were  again  about  him.  It  was  in  the  days  of 
the  old  fashioned  sailing  vessel,  and  the  little  family  suffered  serious 
discomfort  during  their  long  voyage  of  nearly  two  months,  while  the 
husband  and  father,  knowing  of  the  time  of  their  departure,  was  mean- 
time filled  with  anxiety  lest  some  fearful  disaster  should  overtake  them. 
For  a  short  time  the  family  made  their  'home  in  Lebanon,  New  York, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  338 

whence  they  removed  to  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts.  There  Mr.  Daly 
found  work  in  the  Stearns  Woolen  ]\lills,  in  West  Pittsfield.  Shortly 
afterward  he  took  employment  m  the  mills  of  L.  Pomeroy  &  Sons,  for 
whom  he  worked  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  Air.  Daly  then  re- 
moved to  Canaan,  Connecticut,  where  he  engag-ed  in  woolen  manufacture 
on  his  own  account.  He  entered  upon  this  undertaking  under  auspi- 
cious circumstances,  hut  was  soon  doomed  to  hitter  disappointment,  his 
mill  taking  fire  and  burning  down,  sweeping  away  all  his  property  and 
means.  The  family  then  removed  to  Oueensbury,  New  York,  and  here 
Mr.  Daly  died,  in  1862.  leaving  the  following  children:  John,  born  in 
1823,  who  married  Nora  O'Brien,  of  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  and  is 
now  deceased;  Jane,  born  in  1825,  who  married  James  Glennon,  of 
Pittsfield,  and  they  reside  in  Taconic,  Pittsfield;  Joseph,  born  in  1827, 
who  is  deceased,  and  whose  first  wife  was  Maria  Denney,  and  his  second 
wife  was  Eliza  Farrell ;  James,  born  1829,  who  married  Susan  Mc- 
Donough  and  reared  a  large  family;  William  A.,  to  be  further  referred 
to;  Eliza,  and  Sarah,  who  never  married  and  live  together  in  Pittsfield. 
William  Augustin  Daly,  of  the  family  before  named,  was  a  lad  of 
ele\en  years  when  he  accompanied  his  mother  to  this  countn,-.  He 
brought  with  him  all  the  fresh  anticipations  and  buoyant  hopes  of  youth, 
and  also  the  energy  and  sense  of  responsibility  of  a  man.  He  aided 
his  father  to  the  utmost  b}-  his  labor,  in  order  to  provide  for  the  wants 
of  the  numerous  children.  At  the  same  time  he  did  not  lose  sight  of 
what  was  needed  for  his  own  ad\antage  and  his  future  usefulness,  and, 
unaljle  tO'  avail  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  dav  schcjo],  he  pursued 
his  studies  at  night,  and  acquired  a  good  ]M-actical  education,  ]Kiving 
particular  attention  to  those  branches  which  he  deemed  as  most  ad- 
vantageous. After  the  death  of  his  father  he  and  his  Ij^'others  estal> 
lished  themselves  in  a  woolen  manufactorv  at  Oueensburv,  New  York. 


334  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Tliey  conducted  a  successful  business  for  a  period  of  eight  years,  when 
misfortune  paid  them  a  second  visit,  their  mill  being  burned  down,  as  had 
been  one  during  the  lifetime  of  their  father,  then  removed  to  Fair  Ha\'en, 
Vermont,  but  after  a  short  stay  there  in  1870  William  A.  Daly  returned 
to  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  E.  B.  Whit- 
tlesey, and  subsequently  became  superintendent  in  the  mill  of  J.  L.  Peck. 
After  a  sojourn  here  of  eight  months  he  returned  to  the  mills  of  L. 
Pomeroy  &  Sons,  to^  take  the  position  of  overseer  in  the  weaving  room. 
He  acquitted  himself  in  this  capacity  most  usefully  and  creditably  for 
five  years,  then  removing  to  ]\Iiddlefield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  ac- 
cepted a  similar  position  in  the  mills  of  J.  K.  West  &  Company.  He 
was  so  employed  when  (in  1880)  he  had  premonitions  of  failing  health, 
and  he  went  south  in  hope  of  beneficial  results,  remaining  eight  years, 
and  during  a  portion  of  this  time  serving  as  superintendent  of  a  woolen 
mill  near  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Returning  in  1888,  he  entered  the  Taconic 
mills  at  Pittsfield,  where  he  remained  for  three  years,  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing seven  years  worked  in  the  Pontoosuc  mills  at  Pittsfield.  In  1902 
he  again  went  south  and  again  entered  the  employ  of  the  same  company 
for  which  he  b.ad  served  more  than  twenty  years  before,  and  with  which 
he  yet  remains.  Mr.  Daly  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  capable  wajolen 
manufacturers  in  the  countiy.  He  has  w'itnessed  and  participated  in 
every  stage  of  the  development  of  the  woolen  industry  from  its  primitive 
to  the  most  advanced  methods,  and  is  able  to  point  back  to  many  im- 
provements in  processes  as  the  fruits  of  his  own  labor  and  thought. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  phenomenal  industry,  and  a  census  of  the  labor- 
ers in  his  peculiar  field  would  discover  few  whose  experiences  would 
equal  his  own,  and  none  who  could  surpass  him.  His  personal  traits 
are  such  as  are  befitting  one  with  so  excellent  a  business  record.  Like 
the  others  of  his  family,  he  has  been  strictly  temperate  through  his  life, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  335 

and  to  this  fact  he  attributes  in  large  degree  the  success  which  he  has 
achieved  and  the  vigor  which  has  enabled  him  to  continue  in  a  life  of 
unremittent  effort,  not  unattended  with  disappointments  and  sorrow.  A 
Roman  Catholic  in  religion,  he  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  maintenance  of  St.  Joseph's  church,  Pittsfield,  and  its  large  and 
varied  benevolences,  while  at  the  same  time  he  is  liberal  in  his  response 
to  the  call  of  the  individual  distressed  and  afflicted.  In  politics  'his 
affiliations  are  with  the  Democratic  party. 

In  1857  Mr.  Daly  married  Miss  Mary  Donohue,  daughter  of  James 
and  Margaret  (Hughes)  Donohue.  Of  this  marriage  were  born  eight 
children,  of  whom  six  survive:  i.  Margaret,  born  in  1858,  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years.  2.  Augustin  J.,  born  186 1,  who  is  a  lawyer 
by  profession  and  mayor  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  years  1904  to 
1905.  3.  William,  born  in  1863,  died  when  three  and  one-half  years  old. 
4,  Elizabeth,  born  in  1867,  who  is  unmarried,  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  brother,  Augustin  J.,  in  Cambridge.  5.  Jennie,  born  in  1870, 
who  married  John  Rencenhausen.  6.  Frank,  born  in  1872,  who  is  a 
printer,  and  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Gorman  &  Daly,  and  makes  his 
home  with  his  father.  7.  William,  born  in  1876,  who  is  an  overseer 
in  the  Taconic  Mills.  8.  Annie,  born  in  1880,  married  Edward  Hall, 
a  contractor  of  Pittsfield. 

The  mother  of  these  children,  a  most  exemplary  woman,  and  de- 
voted wife  and  mother,  departed  this  life  in  1898.  The  bereaved  hus- 
band has  never  ceased  to  suffer  under  this  deep  affliction,  and  it  has  left 
its  impression  upon  his  health,  notwithstanding"  his  robust  appearance. 
The  parents  have  reared  to  manhood  and  womanhood  a  noble  family 
of  children,  all  of  whom  have  entered  upon  lives  of  usefulness  and  enjoy 
the  esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


336  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

REV.  HOWARD  MURRAY  DUMBELL. 

The  Rev.  Howard  Murray  Dumbell,  rector  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  of  St.  James,  at  Great  Barrington,  Berkshire  county,  Masr- 
sachusetts,  comes  of  an  excellent  English  stock,  and  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are  borne  upon  the  titled  rolls  of  Great  Britain.  His  paternal  uncle. 
Sir  Alfred  Dumbell,  was  high  bailiff  (or  chief  magistrate)  of  Ramsey, 
Isle-of-Man,  deemster,  and  clerk  of  the  rolls.  He  was  knighted  by 
Queen  Victoria  shortly  before  the  death  of  that  most  excellent  sovereign. 
A  paternal  aunt  of  Mr.  Dumbell  is  Lady  Cuyler. 

Howard  Murray  Dumbell  was  born  December  12,  1864,  in  Liver- 
pool, England,  son  of  George  William  and  Georgiana  Mary  (Cox)  Dum- 
bell. The  father,  born  November  6,  1832,  son  of  George  William  Dum- 
bell, banker,  of  Douglas,  was  educated  at  the  Rugby  school  (so  well 
known  to  American  readers  through  "Tom  Brown's  School  Days"), 
by  Hon.  Thomas  Hughes,  M.  P..  and  at  the  University  of  Cambridge. 
He  was  secretary  of  the  Hull  Dock  Company,  in  Hull.  England,  for  ten 
years,  and  held  a  commission  as  captain  in  the  First  East  York  Rifles. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  November,  1876,  and  settled  in  Texas, 
where  he  acquired  a  large  ranch  near  the  Mexican  frontier.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  in  1878  received  priest's  orders 
in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  He  built  two  church  edifices  in 
Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  remodeled  one  in  Jackson,  in  the  same  state, 
and  built  a  church  in  Sherbrooke,  Quebec.  His  wife,  Georgiana  Mary 
Cox,  was  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Austin  Cox,  one  of  the  Puisne  judges 
of  British  Honduras. 

Their  son.  Howard  Murray  Dumbell,  received  his  early  instruction 
luider  a  governess  and  tutors  in  England,  and  further  pursued  his  educa- 
tion under  tutors  in  his  home  on  the  Texas  frontier.     He    entered    the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  337 

University  of  the  South,  at  Sewanee,  Tennessee,  and  made  his  theolog- 
ical studies  in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  same  institution.  As  a 
young  man  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Gulf,  Colorado  &  Santa  Fe 
Railway  Company,  at  headquarters,  Oscar  G.  Murray,  Esq.,  general 
freight  agent,  now  president  of  that  corporation.  He  also  aided  in  run- 
ning the  line  over  the  International  and  Great  Northern  Railway  from 
San  Antonio,  Texas  (the  first  line  in  Texas  to  use  the  steel  rails),  to 
Laredo,  Mexico.  In  1891  Mr.  Dumhell  was  ordained  to  the  priest- 
hood of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  and  at  once  entered  upon  a 
career  of  great  usefulness.  He  was  dean  of  the  Cathedral  of  Tennessee 
from  January,  1893,  until  Fehruary,  1895.  I"  ^^^^^  year  he  was  called 
to  the  rectorship  of  St.  Paul's  church  in  Brooklyn,  New  York  city.  He 
served  with  this  church  until  Christmas  day,  1899,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  rectorship  of  St.  James'  church  at  Great  Barrington,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  has  since  that  time  devoted  his  energies  to  the  interests  of 
his  parish.  Inheriting  the  hest  traditions  of  the  historic  old  church  of 
time-hallowed  memories,  and  familiar  with  its  practice  and  usages 
through  his  early  associations  in  a  section  where  it  flourished  without 
contamination,  he  came  to  his  service  as  a  clerg}'man  with  deep-rooted 
principles  as  well  as  an  admirahle  mental  ecjuipment.  He  has  endeared 
liimself  to  his  peo]3le  perhaps  more  closely  than  had  he  been  "  Native 
here  and  to  the  manner  born."  though  it  is  to  be  said  is  a  thoroug"h 
American  by  free  choice  and  out  of  an  ardent  appreciation  of  American 
institutions  and  opportunities  for  usefulness.  He  became  a  naturalized 
citizen  shortly  after  coming  to  Great  Barrington.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
niark  that  under  the  Rev.  Dumbell's  efficient  rectorship  St.  James  parish 
has  materially  increased  its  membership,  property  interests  and  service 
attendance,  particularly  the  last  named,  having  developed  a  power  for 
good  in  the  community  that  cannot  be  overestimated.     He  has  allied 


338  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

himself  with  no  pohtical  organization,  hnt  inchnes  toward  Repubhcan- 
ism.  His  energetic  services  as  first  president  of  the  board  of  trade  at- 
tested his  interest  in  local  affairs.  He  is  a  member  and  thaplain  of 
Cincinnatns  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

Mr.  Dumbell  married,  April  8,  1890,  Miss  Anna  Pattison  Sherrod, 
daughter  of  Dr.  John  I.  Sherrod,  who  was  a  veteran  of  the  great  civil 
war,  and  niece  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Sherrod,  who  was  United  States 
senator  from  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Dumbell  is  a  graduate  of  Tipton  Female 
Seminary  at  Covington,  near  Memphis,  Tennessee.  The  children  of 
the  Rev.  Howard  Murray  and  Anna  Pattison  (Sherrod)  Dumbell  are: 
Howard  Murray  Dumbell,  born  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  July  3,  1891 ; 
George  William  Dumbell,  born  in  Memphis,  Tennessee.  September  5, 
1893;  Eric  Sherrod  Dumbell,  born  in  New  York  City,  March  4,  1896; 
Edith  Dumbell,  born  in  Great  Barrington,  April   17,  1903. 

CHARLES   GIDDINGS. 

A  prominent  meml^er  of  the  legal  profession  of  Berkshire  county  is 
Charles  Giddings,  of  Great  Barrington.  J\Ir.  Giddings  is  a  representa- 
tive of  an  old  New  England  family,  tracing  his  descent  from  George 
Giddings,  who  came  from  England  about  1700  and  settled  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Massachusetts.  His  descendants  participated  in  the  colonial 
wars. 

Edward  J.  Giddings  was  a  minister  of  the  Congregational  church 
and  filled  pastorates  at  different  places  in  Massachusetts.  He  married 
Rebecca  J.  Fuller,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Dr.  Fuller  of  the  "  May- 
flower "  company.  Of  the  five  children  born  to  them  four  are  now 
living:  Franklin  H.,  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  Columbia  College,  oc- 
cupying the  chair  of  Sociology;  Edward   F.,  a   lawyer  in   New  York; 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  339 

Carrie  L..  of  Chicago;  and  Charles,  mentioned  at  length  hereinafter. 
Some  time  before  his  death  Mr.  Giddings  retired  from  the  active  worU- 
of  the  ministry,  and  closed  his  life  of  unostentatious  usefulness  April 
l^,  1904.  at  Boston,  while  visiting-  his  son  Charles,  then  a  member  of 
1he  legislature. 

Charles  Giddings,  son  of  Edward  J.  and  Rebecca  J.  (Fuller)  Gid- 
dings, \vas  born  May  10.  1867,  at  Housatonic.  Berkshire  county,  where 
he  received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  Great  Barrington  high 
school,  and  afterward  entered  Williams  College,  class  of  '89.  He  was 
prepared  for  his  chosen  profession  in  the  law  department  of  New  York 
Universitv.  from  which  he  received  his  degree  in  1891,  and  in  1893  "^^'^^ 
admitted  to  the  bar.  January  t,  1895,  he  entered  upon  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  Mr.  Giddings  has  always  taken  a  leading  part 
in  public  affairs  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  as  a  political  speaker. 
In  1892  he  was  actively  engaged  in  the  Cleveland  campaign.  He  has 
acted  as  moderator  at  town  meetings,  and  served  as  deleg'ate  to  Demo- 
cratic state  conventions.  Tn  the  autumn  of  1893  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature,  and  again  in  1902  was  elected  to  the  legislature  and  also  in 
1903.  Tn  the  latter  named  year  he  served  on  the  judiciary  committee, 
and  in  1904  on  that  committee  and  also  on  the  committee  on  rules.  He 
was  his  party's  nominee  for  congress  in  the  first  congressional  district 
of  Massachusetts.  1904.  Notwithstanding  the  constant  pressure  of 
urgent  professional  and  political  demands  ?^rr.  Giddings  takes  an  active 
interest  in  local  affairs,  and  is  chairman  of  the  school  committee  of 
Great  Barrington.  It  was  ]\Ir.  Gidding's'  vigorous  work  as  a  member 
of  the  legislature  in  the  face  of  equally  vigorous  opposition  that  led  to 
the  removal  from  the  heart  of  the  village  of  Housatonic  its  progress 
blocking  relic  of  a  former  da\'.  the  ancient  burying  ground.  He  is  a 
member  of  the   Masonic   order,   and   the  college  Greek  letter   societies. 


340  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

He  attends  the  Congregational  church.  i\lr.  Gicldings  married,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1899,  Edith  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  Theodore  G.  Ramsdell, 
of  Housatonic,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  two  children :  Mary  R.  and 
Janet  F.  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  the  noted  Ohio  abolitionist,  was  a  col- 
lateral connection  of  the  family  of  which  Mr.  Giddings  is  a  represent- 
ative, 

REV.  THOMAS  H.  McLAUGHLIN. 

It  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  there  were  Cathxilic  people  residing  in 
Adams  prior  to  the  year  1840',  as  menticMi  is  made  of  a  considerable 
number  of  Irish  families  having  established  themselves  in  North  Adams 
as  early  as  1825,  and  some  of  them  no  doubt  found  homes  within  the 
precincts  of  the  present  town  of  Adams.  The  first  Roman  Catholic 
religious  service  in  Adams,  of  which  there  is  any  record,  was  held  in 
the  dwelling  house  of  Michael  Madden,  where  the  Rev.  Bernard  Cav- 
anagh,  then  pastor  of  the  Pittsfield  parish,  celebrated  mass  in  1845. 
On  various  occasions  afterwards,  as  opportunity  permitted,  the  same 
clergyman  continued  to  keep  alive  the  religious  spirit  among  the  Cath- 
olics by  celebrating  mass  in  a  house  located  on  the  mill  grounds  until 
a  small  hall  on  Main  street  was  secured  for  this  purpose.  During  the 
rectorship  of  Father  Cuddihy  and  that  of  his  successor.  Father  Purcell, 
the  mission  was  fostered  by  these  zealous  Pittsfield  priests,  who  gave 
to  it  as  much  time  as  could  be  spared  from  their  regular  duties,  which 
in  those  early  days  were  exceedingly  arduous.  In  1863  the  Rev.  Father 
Charles  Lynch  was  appointed  pastor  at  North  Adams,  and  that  clergy- 
man was  able  thereafter  to  give  Adams  more  attention.  This  fact  he 
soon  manifested  by  purchasing  the  old  Congregational  meeting  house, 
which  he  removed  to  a  lot  on  Park  street  and  remodeled  into  an  edifice 
suitable  for  Roman  Catholic  worship.     On  September  12,  1875,  Adams 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  341 

was  raised  from  a  mission  to  the  dignity  of  a  parish,  which  became 
known  as  that  of  St.  Thomas,  and  the  Rev.  E.  F.  ]\IcCourt  Avas  ap- 
pointed its  first  rector.  Father  McCourt  purchased  for  the  sum  of  six- 
teen thousand  dohars  the  land  on  which  the  church  and  rectory  now 
stand,  and  he  continued  to  labor  in  the  interests  of  the  parish  diligently 
and  along  progTessi\"e  lines  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in 
January,  1880,  deeply  regretted  by  his  parishioners,  and  in  February, 
188 1,  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Dennis  C.  Moran.  For  some  years 
the  old  church  had  been  inadequate  to  the  needs  of  the  parish,  and 
Father  jNIoran  continued  the  work  of  his  predecessor  leading  to  the 
erection  of  a  larger  church  edifice,  the  corner  stone  of  which  was  laid 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Beaven.  of  the  Spring-field  diocese.  May  17, 
1896.  and  the  building,  sufficiently  advanced  in  construction  for  pur- 
poses of  worship,  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies  by  the 
same  prelate.  May  9,  1897. 

Rev  Father  Dennis  C.  Moran,  who  labored  so  earnestly  and  success- 
fullv  in  behalf  of  St.  Thomas'  church,  was  born  in  Luffaney,  parish  of 
Carrigan,  county  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  ]\\\y  11,  1841.  His  education, 
which  was  begun  under  the  direction  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  was  con- 
tinued at  St.  John's  College,  Waterford,  from  whence  he  came  to  the 
United  States  and  resumed  his  studies  at  Holy  Cross  College,  ^^'orcester, 
Massachusetts,  in  1863.  He  studied  theologv  at  St.  Sulpice,  Paris,  for 
two  vears,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  entered  St.  Patrick's  Col- 
lege, Carlow,  Ireland,  where  his  theological  preparations  were  com- 
pleted, and  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  there  for  the  Boston  dio- 
cese, November  5,  1865.  Returning  to  America  he  was  in  April,  1866, 
assigned  to  duty  as  curate  under  his  uncle.  Rev.  William  Moran.  then 
rector  at  Ware,  this  state,  and  five  months  later  was  transferred  to 
Lowell.     In  May,  1868,  he  began  the  duties  of  his  first  pastorate,  that 


342  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  Uxbridge,  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  until  selected  to  organ- 
ize the  parish  at  Winchendon,  this  state.  July  31,  1871,  and  he  continued 
his  labors  there  until  appointed  to  the  rectorate  of  St.  Thomas"  church, 
Adams.  His  labors  in  that  town  during"  the  succeeding  nineteen  years 
are  fully  attested  by  the  importance  acquired  b}'  the  parisx.  under  his 
charge,  and  the  successful  culmination  of  its  Iniilding  operations,  and  his 
passing  away,  which  occurred  on  Sunday  morning.  July  zt^.  1899,  as  the 
result  of  a  lingering  illness  brought  on  by  long  continued  overwork,  not 
only  saddened  the  hearts  of  his  devoted  parishioners,  but  was  regarded 
by  all  classes,  irrespective  of  race  or  creed,  as  a  severe  loss  to  the  entire 
community. 

Rev.  Thomas  H.  McLaughlin,  present  rector  of  St.  Thomas'  church, 
was  born  January  i,  1861,  in  Clinton.  Massachusetts,  which  has  fur- 
nished the  Roman  Catholic  church  with  so  many  able  and  energetic 
clergymen.  His  parents,  Patrick  J.  and  Honorah  T.  (Kittridge)  Mc- 
Laughlin, wTre  natives  of  county  Mayo,  L^eland,  who  sought  a  new 
home  in  the  United  States,  where  labor  received  a  more  adecjuate  re- 
muneration, and  they  were  worthy,  industrious  people,  who,  in  spite  of 
their  arduous  toil,  devoted  much  time  to  the  moral  training  of  their  chil- 
dren. Patrick  J.  McLaughlin  died  October  29,  1904,  surviving  his 
wife,  whose  death  occurred  July  31.  1897.  Their  son  Thomas  was  edu- 
cated preliminarily  in  the  Clinton  public  schools,  and  having  decided  at 
an  early  age  to  devote  his  life  to  the  service  of  the  church,  he  began  his 
preparations  at  the  Ottawa  (Canada)  College,  from  which  he  entered 
Boston  College,  where  he  took  his  bachelor's  degree  with  the  class  of 
1882.  Two  years  later  (1884)  he  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of 
Theology  at  the  Catholic  Theological  Seminary  in  Montreal.  On  De- 
cember 19,  1885,  he  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  in  Springfield,  this 
state,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  P.  J.  O'Riely,  then  bishop  of  that  diocese,  who  was 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  343 

the  officiating-  priest  at  his  baptism,  and  as  a  bishop  had  confirmed  him 
when  a  boy.  That  ]jrelate  certainly  performed  his  duty  toward  him, 
spiritnahy  speaking-,  and  it  may  be  added  that  in  America,  at  least,  it 
seldom  falls  to  the  lot  of  a  clergyman  to  officiate  at  so  many  rehgions 
rites  extended  to  one  Avhom  he  had  been  called  upon  to  recei\'e  into  the 
church  at  the  baptismal  font.  On  January  5,  1886,  he  was  appointed 
assistant  rector  of  St.  Joseph's  church,  Pittsfield,  in  which  capacity  he 
continued  tO'  labor  zealously  and  without  interruption  for  a  period  of 
eleven  years,  endearing  himself  to  the  parishioners  not  onlv  as  their 
spiritual  counselor,  but  also  for  his  kindly  iuterest  in  their  everv-day 
life,  which  has  ever  since  loeen  one -of  the  chief  characteristics  of  his 
professional  labors.  In  1897  Father  McLaughlin  went  to  Hunting- 
ton, Massachusetts,  as  rector  of  St.  Thomas"  church,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years  and  eight  months  or  until  called  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Thomas'  Parish,  Adams,  August  2y.  1899.  tx)  succeed  the  lamented 
Father  Moran.  His  six  years  of  ministerial  work  in  this  town  ha^•e 
been  productive  of  so  much  visible  benefit  to  the  parish,  both  individually 
and  as  a  whole,  as  to  cause  the  hope  that  his  rectorship  may  continue 
for  many  years  to  come,  and  with  a  priest  of  his  superabundant  quali- 
fications at  its  head  it  may  be  expected  to  still  further  increase  in  im- 
portance and  usefulness.  / 

The  present  St.  Thomas'  church  edifice  is  of  Gothic  architecture 
somewhat  modified,  and  was  built  according  to  plans  furnished  by  James 
Murphy,  an  architect  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  It  is  of  brick  with 
white  stone  trimmings;  is  135  feet  long  and  61  feet  wide;  the  main  por- 
tion is  75  feet  high  and  the  main  tower  from  the  sidewalk  to  the 
cross  on  the  io\)  measures  130  feet.  Its  surroundings  are  exceedingly 
attractive  and  the  rectory  occupies  one  of  the  most  pictures(jue  sites  in 
this   locality.     The  basement,    wherein   the   parishioners   are   now   wor- 


344  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

shipping,  seats  seven  hundred  and  forty,  but  the  upper  portion,  or  church 
proper  when  completed  will  have  a  seating  capacity  of  nine  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  parish  contains  nineteen  hundred  souls,  and  the  average 
attendance  at  Sunday  school  is  two  hundred  and  eighty.  Connected 
with  it  is  the  Holy  Name  Society,  having  a  membership  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five;  the  League  of  the  Sacred  Heart  with  six  hundred  and 
sixty-five  members ;  and  the  Rosary  Society.  There  is  also  connected 
with  it  a  mission  chapel  in  Cheshire  known  as  the  Church  of  St.  Mary 
of  the  Assumption,  which  was  dedicated  August  8,  1879,  under  the 
pastorate  of  Father  McCourt. 

Father  McLaughlin  is  considered  one  of  the  best  church  financiers 
in  the  diocese.  When  he  took  charge  of  St.  Thomas'  parish  there  was 
a  debt  upon  the  church  property  amounting  to  fifty-one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  twenty-one  dollars,  which  he  has  entirely  cancelled  and 
there  is  now  five  thousand  dollars  in  the  treasury.  He  is  state  chaplain 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  deputy  grand  knight  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  of  Berkshire  county. 

TITUS  E.  EDDY. 

Since  1875  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  article  has 
been  a  summer  resident  of  Pittsfield,  one  of  that  interesting  and  con- 
stantly increasing  group  of  summer  home  builders  in  the  Berkshires — 
the  New  York  city  contingent. 

Mr.  Eddy  was  born  November  2,  1834,  in  Troy,  New  York,  son  of 
Titus  Eddy,  a  native  of  Vermont  and  descended  from  early  English 
settlers  of  Rhode  Island.  Mr.  Eddy  was  engaged  in  the  white  lead  busi- 
ness in  New  York  and  is  now  retired.  His  New  York  residence  is  No. " 
13  East  Forty-seventh  street. 


(OguVx^  -^.  ^JUco)v>^— 


rke  Lewis  Tuhlishm^  Cc 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  345 

He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  the  late  David  L.  Seymour,  a  lead- 
ing lawyer  of  Troy,  and  of  the  historic  Seymour  family  of  Connecticut 
and  New  York,  whose  ancestors  were  English  colonial  settlers  of  New 
England.  The  parish  house,  St.  Luke's,  at  Laneshoro,  near  Pittsfield, 
a  memorial  to  the  late  Mrs.  Maria  L.  Seymour,  mother  of  Mrs.  Titus  E. 
Eddy,  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddy. 

CLIFFORD  SAMUEL  CHAPIN,  M.  D. 

Among  the  younger  members  of  the  medical  profession  in  Berk- 
shire county  whose  successful  practice  has  demonstrated  especial  fitness 
and  equipment  therefor,  Clifford  Samuel  Chapin,  of  Great  Barrington, 
may  be  appropriately  numbered.  He  is  descended  in  both  paternal  and 
maternal  lines  from  early  English  colonial  settlers.  The  founder  of  the 
Chapin  family  in  America, 

Deacon  Samuel  W.  Chapin,  landed  in  Boston  in  1637,  and  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  Springfield,  J\Lassachusetts.     Of  his  descendants, 

Caleb  Chapin  was  a  captain  in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  and  his 
son 

Caleb  Chapin  (2)  had  the  same  rank  in  the  Patriot  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Curtis  Chapin,  grandson  of  Caleb  Chapin  (2),  was  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  leading  citizen  of  Bernardston,  Massachusetts.  He  married 
Jeannette,  daughter  of  John  Nelson,  also  prominent  in  business  and  social 
circles  of  Bernardston.  and  who  held  numerous  local  offices.  Curtis 
Chapin  died  March  28.  1875.     Of  his  children. 

Clifford  Samuel  Chapin.  born  January  2^.  1873.  in  Bernardston. 
attended  the  pul)lic  schools  and  Powers*  Institute,  Bernardston.  and  W'il- 
liston   Seminary,   Easthampton.      For  three  years  thereafter  he  taught 


346  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

school,  and  during  this  period  took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  determining" 
upon  the  adoption  of  that  profession  as  his  hfe  work.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  New  York  city,  in  1896, 
and  two  years  later  established  offices  at  Great  Barrington,  where  he 
has  won  recognition  as  a  capal^le  and  conscientious  physician,  and  is  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  practice. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Berkshire  Medical  Society,  the  ^Massachusetts 
Medical  Association,  and  the  American  Medical  Association ;  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  Berkshire  Automobile  Club,  Sons  of  the  American  Rev- 
olution, and  Chapin  Family  Association  of  America. 

He  married,  June  29,  1899,  Mary  Redfield  WYight.  daughter  of 
William  Wright.  Two  sons  born  of  this  marriage  are  Curtis  W.  and 
Clififord  S.  Chapin.  Mrs.  Dr.  Chapin  is  lineally  descended  from  John  and 
Priscilla  Alden,  the  story  \yi  whose  courtship  has  been  immortalized  In' 
Longfellow. 

CONSTANT  SOUTHWORTH. 
One  of  the  honored  citizens  of  Berkshire  county  whose  names 
belong  to  the  past  was  Constant  Southworth,  who  was  for  more  than 
half  a  century  a  resident  of  Great  Barrington.  The  Southworth  family 
is  a  celebrated  one  in  the  annals  of  New  England.  The  founder  was 
Mrs.  Alice  (Carpenter)  Southworth,  who  came  with  her  children  to 
the  Plymouth  colony  in  the  early  years  of  its  history.  Before  her  mar- 
riage one  of  her  suitors  had  been  William  Bradford,  afterward  g'ov- 
ernor  of  the  Plymouth  colony,  and  everything  seemed  to  point  to  a 
favorable  termination  of  the  courtship.  Separated  bv  the  force  of  cir- 
cumstances, Alice  Carpenter  became  the  wife  of  Edward  Southworth. 
of  London,  England,  and  their  marriage  w^as  consummated  in  Leyden, 
Holland,  in  May,  161 3.     William  Bradford,  having  also  married,  sailed 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  347 

with  his  wife  in  the  "  Mayflower."  Losing  his  wife  by  death  shortly 
after  their  arrival  in  Massachusetts,  and  hearing  that  j\Irs.  Sonthworth 
had  become  a  widow,  he  requested  her  to  join  him,  and  she  arrived  at 
Plymouth  on  the  ship  "  Anne  "'  about  August  i,  1623.  Her  marriage 
to  Governor  Bradford,  August  14,  1623,  was  the  beginning  of  a  long 
and  happy  union.  Her  descendants  were  prominently  identified  with 
the  subsequent  history  of  the  colonies. 

Constant  Southworth,  son  of  Constant  and  Statira  (Adams) 
Southworth,  was  born  in  1802,  in  Berlin,  Connecticut.  P>om  child- 
hood he  lived  in  Berkshire  county,  and  subsequent  to  1825  made  his 
home  in  Great  Barrington,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
dying  November  14,  1876.  He  was  a  public-spirited  citizen,  taking  a 
keen  interest  in  all  township  and  county  affairs,  and  giving  his  influ- 
ence always  on  the  side  which  appeared  to  him  to  be  that  of  right  and 
justice.  To  all  projects  which  in  liis  judgment  had  a  tendency  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  communitv,  he  gave  his  hearty  stipport 
and  concurrence.  In  the  sphere  of  politics  his  influence  was  strongly 
felt,  and  invariably  in  a  way  which  made  for  the  general  good.  He 
belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  the  affairs  of  which  he  took  a 
prominent  part,  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  holding  the  offices  of  warden  and  vestryman. 

Mr.  Southworth  married  Juliette  Maria,  daughter  of  Captain  Eber 
Yale,  of  a  very  old  New  England  family.  Captain  Thomas  Yale  lost 
his  life  at  Louisville,  Prince  Edward's  Island,  during  the  colonial  wars. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Southworth  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  son,  John  H.,  is  a  rail- 
road engineer,  residing  in  New  Haven.  The  daughter,  Grace  Elliott, 
became  the  wife  of  James  K.  Parker,  a  member  of  a  New  York  family 
of  English  origin  and  ancient  pedigree.     Of  the  fl\'e  children  l^orn  to 


348  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parker  three  are  now  living:  James  Sonthworth,  of 
Salem,  New  York,  who  is  a  member  of  the  legislature ;  Constance  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  D.  Ticknor,  of  Great  Barrington; 
and  Edward  Constant  Sonthworth  Parker,  who  is  an  ensign  in  the . 
navy,  second  in  command  of  the  "  Channcey,"  when  in  Chinese  waters 
during  the  Japanese-Russian  war.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church.  The  deceased  children  of  James  K.  and 
Grace  Elliott  (Sonthworth)  Parker  were:  Charles  and  Carolyn  Yale 
Parker. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Sonthworth,  which  occurred  in  1876,  when  he 
had  reached  the  age  of  seventy-four,  was  mourned  by  all  classes  of  the 
community  in  which  he  had  so  long  resided.  It  was  felt  that  both  the 
town  and  the  county  had  lost  one  whose  life  had  been  an  example, 
the  memory  of  which  would  be  an  inspiration  to  those  coming  after 
him.  Mrs.  Sonthworth,  who  was  a  woman  universally  beloved,  sur- 
vived her  husband  a  number  of  years,  passing  away  in  1892. 

THOMAS  P.  WELCH. 

The  genial  and  popular  proprietor  of  the  Greylock  hotel,  Adams, 
is  a  native  of  Berkshire  county  and  was  born  in  the  town  of  Cheshire, 
August  2,  i860.  His  parents  were  the  late  Patrick  and  Charlotte 
(Ryan)  Welch,  who  were  natives  of  county  Tipperary.  Ireland,  and 
emigrated  to  the  United  States  at  an  early  age.  Soon  after  their  arrival 
they  came  to  Berkshire  county,  where  they  resided  for  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  and  died  in  Cheshire,  which  had  l)een  their  home  for  many 
years.  Patrick  \\'elch  was  a  tanner  by  trade  and  followed  that  useful 
calling  industriously  during  his  active  life.  His  wife,  Charlotte  (Ryan) 
Welch,  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  namelv:     Richard,  who  is 


te 


c^^Y>  /Ml 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  349 

residing  in  Adams;  x\lice,  who  died  in  childhood;  James,  also  deceased; 
Thomas  P.,  the  principal  subject  of  th.is  sketch;  Ellen,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Martin  McShehan;  Mary,  the  wife  of  John  Ford;  and  Frank 
Welch,  whose  heroic  death  while  endeavoring  to  save  property  at  a  fire 
in  Cheshire  some  ten  years  ago  is  well  remembered  by  residents  of  that 
town.  Thomas  P.  Welch  was  educated  in  the  Cheshire  pul)lic  schools. 
During  the  early  years  of  his  actix-e  life  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  his  native  town,  hut  life  upon  a  farm  was  far  too  sluggish  for 
a  young  man  endowed  with  an  earnest  desire  for  a  more  rapid  advance- 
ment, and  he  accordingly  utilized  his  inherent  resources  for  the  pur- 
pose of  adopting  a  more  congenial  calling.  In  1883  he  opened  a  cafe 
in  Adams,  which  was  a  successful  \enture  from  the  start,  made  so  in 
no  small  measure  by  his  genial  natiu'e  and  open-handed  hospitality,  and 
he  immediately  acquired  a  wide  spread  popularity  as  a  public  caterer  in 
the  way  of  refreshments.  That  establishment,  although  profitable  and 
congenial  to  him,  proved  entirely  inadequate  to  conform  to  his  ad\'anced 
ideas  of  business  expansion,  and  when  a  favoralile  opportunity  pre- 
sented itself  he  donned  the  habiliments  of  a  full-fiedg'ed  Ijoniface,  he- 
coming"  in  1895  proprietor  of  the  Hoosac  Valley  House.  Cheshire, 
which  is  now  known  as  the  Cheshire  Inn.  He  next  acquired  posses- 
sion of  the  Adams  House,  Adams,  which  he  conducted  successfully  for 
a  few  years  or  until  1901,  when  he  purchased  h.is  present  hotel  ])rop- 
erty  in  that  town.  Under  his  able  management  the  (ireylock  Hotel  has 
obtained  a  high  reputation  with  the  traxeling  ])ublic  for  its  open  hospi- 
tal itv  and  genuine  pood  cheer,  and  one  of  its  most  prominent  features 
is  the  genial  landlord  himself,  whose  pleasant  manner  of  greeting-  his 
guests  and  kindly  interest  in  providing-  for  their  comfort  are  heartily 
appreciated  bv  the  numerous  commercial  tourists  and  other  travelers  who 
make  the  Greylock  their  head(|uartcrs  during  their  sojourn  in  Adams. 


360  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Aside  from  his  popularity  as  a  hotel  man  Mr.  A\'elch  is  a  general  favor- 
ite in  social  and  fraternal  circles.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  .\ncient  Order  of  Hiber- 
nians, the  Robert  Emmet  Benevolent  Association.  Alert  Hose  Com- 
pany (volnnteer  firemen),  and  the  Veteran  Eire  Company  of  Pitts- 
field.  Though  not  an  aspirant  fx3r  public  office  he  takes  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  councils  of  the  local  Democratic  party  organization,  has  been 
a  member  of  the  state  committee  and  a  delegate  to  state  conventions, 
also  delegate  to  national  Democratic  convention  at  St.  Louis.   IQ04. 

On  July  26.  1882.  Mr.  Welch  was  united  in  marriage  by  the  late 
Rev.  Eather  Moran.  with  Miss  Marcella  Roman,  daughter  of  Michael 
Roman,  of  Pittsfield.  Massachusetts.  Of  this  union  there  are  two 
children,  namely :     Charles  P.  and  Stella. 

JAMES  M.  BURNS. 

Among-  the  residents  of  Pittsfield  retired  from  the  activities  of 
business  life  whose  careers  are  recognized  as  having  been  contributory 
to  the  substantial  business,  social  and  general  development  of  the  com- 
munity is  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs. 

He  was  Ixjrn  in  Thompsonville.  Connecticut,  in  1848.  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Elizabeth  (Stevens)  Burns  (see  sketch  of  LoUis  Burns  in  this 
publication). 

James  M.  Burns  completed  his  education  at  Wilbraham  Academy 
and  shortlv  thereafter  with  an  elder  brother.  David,  entered  into  the 
grocerv  business  in  the  store  formerly  occupied  by  Burns-McLean.  Sub- 
sequentlv  a  department  for  the  sale  of  house-furnishing-  g-oods  was 
added  to  the  operations  of  Burns  Brothers,  and  this  branch  soon  be- 
came the  especially  significant  and  profitable  feature  of  the  business  of 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  351 

the  firm  and  led  to  its  establishment  of  a  house-furnishing  goods  store 
in  the  Upper  Burbank  Block,  North  street,  Pittsfield.  After  some 
years  of  association  of  unusual  pecuniary  advantage,  Messrs.  David  and 
James  M.  Burns  dissohed  partnership  and  divided  their  business  proper- 
ties, the  latter  retaining  the  Pittsfield  store.  He  subsequently  removed 
from  the  Burbank  to  his  own  structure,  the  Burns  Block,  on  North 
street,  and  continued  in  successful  conduct  of  the  business  until  its 
disposal  by  him  to  H.  P.  Wellington.  He  was  for  a  short  time  there- 
after engaged  in  the  private  banking  business  with  Air.  Rollin  H. 
Cooke,  under  the  firm  name  of  Burns  &  Cooke,  at  Pittsfield,  a  business 
which  was  abandoned  when  ^Mr.  Burns  accepted  the  cashiership  of 
Sciioharie  C(  unty  Bank,  Schoharie,  New  ^'ork.  where  he  resided  with 
his  family  until  the  decease  of  his  daughter,  Miss  May  Burns,  when  he 
severed  his  .Schoharie  bank  connection  and  returned  to  Pittsfield,  where 
he  has  since  lived  in  retirement. 

He  married  Lilla  Daniels,  of  Hartford,  Cx^nnecticut.  Thev  have 
had  two  children  :  William  A.  Burns,  hereinafter  mentioned,  and  the 
daughter  deceased,  as  above  set  forth, 

WILUAM  A.  BURNS. 

Of  the  younger  members  of  the  Massachusetts  bar  practicing  at 
Pittsfield,  who  have  won  the  respect  of  their  professional  colleagues  and 
the  confidence  of  the  public,  AA'illiam  A.  Burns  finds  appropriate  men- 
tion. He  is  a  son  of  James  M.  and  Lilla  (Daniels)  Burns  and  was  born 
at    Thompsonville,    Connecticut,    January    9,    1875. 

His  initial  schooling  was  obtained  at  Pittsfield  and  his  general  edu- 
cation completed  at  \\'illiams  College,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated   with   the  class  of    ICS97.     He  then    entered    Harvard     Law 


352  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

School,  graduating  therefrom  and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1900. 
Returning  to  Pittsfield  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  law  firm  of  Dawes 
&  Burke,  an  association  which  continued  until  July  i,  1901,  when  Mr. 
Burns  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  offices 
in  the  Backus  Block. 

As  a  stalwart  and  active  Republican  Mr.  Burns  has  already  obtained 
party  recognition,  being  elected  as  a  representative  from  Pittsfield  to 
the  state  legislature  in  1903,  and  re-elected  in  1904,  serving  acceptably 
during  the  former  year  on  public  service  and  engrossed  bills  committees 
and  as  a  member  also  of  the  special  recess  committee  on  compensation 
of  state  and  county  officials.  During  1904  he  served  on  engrossed  bills 
and  street  railway  committees,  being  chairman  of  the  former.  Mr. 
Burns  is  junior  warden  of  Crescent  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Country  Club.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Pittsfield. 

THOMAS  HENRY  HAYDEN. 

A  member  of  a  very  valuable  class  of  Berkshire  county's  foreign- 
born  citizens  is  Thomas  Henry  Hayden,  a  well  known  resident  of  Lee. 
He  was  born  in  county  Mayo,  Ireland,  in  1843.  His  parents  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1847,  locating  at  Lenox  Furnace  (now  Lenox- 
dale),  where  the  father,  John  Hayden,  followed  the  blacksmithing 
trade  until  1852.  In  that  year  he  moved  to  Lee,  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in  1856. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  the  son  Thomas  H.  went  to  work  in  the  old 
woolen  mill  known  as  the  Saxony  mill,  owned  by  Plattner  &  Smith. 
This  hrm  also  operated  a  paper  mill  and  were  the  founders  of  the  great 
Smith  Paper  Company  of  today.  After  working  about  six  years  in 
the  woolen  mill  IMr.  Havden  went  to  the  firm's  machine  shop  to  learn 


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BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  353 

his  trade,  and  how  well  he  acquired  it  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1878 
he  took  charge  of  the  shop  and  has  been  the  foreman  ever  since.     He 
holds  the  position  of  master  machinist  of  the  Smith  paper  mills.     The 
fact  that  he  has  worked  for  nearly  half  a  century   for  the  same  firm 
speaks  volumes  for  his  ability  and  integrity.     Mr.  Hayden  has  always 
manifested  a  commendable  public  spirit,   and  in  nothing  has  this  been 
more  evident  than  in  his  devotion  to  the  Lee  fire  department.     His  con- 
nection with  this  organization  began  in  1856,  when  as  a  boy  he  used  to 
carry  the  flag  of  the  company  in  parade.     During  a  period  of  more  than 
twenty  years  he  served  successively  as  fireman,  foreman  and  first  assist- 
ant engineer,  and  on  the  death  of  Captain  Shannon,  the  chief  engineer, 
was  chosen  to  fill  the  office,  which  he  still  retains.     Mr.  Hayden  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  holds  the  office  of  president 
in  the  Lee  Cornet  Band,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  for  the  last 
twenty-five  years.     Both  as  a   citizen  and   a  neigh1>or  ]\Ir.    Hayden   is 
deservedly  popular.     He  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and 
a  member  of  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  church  of  Lee.     ]\Ir.  Hayden 
was  married,  November  26,   1870,  to  Magdalena  Stumpf,  daughter  of 
Philip  Stumpf,  an  old  resident  of  Lee,  who  died   from  the  effects  of 
wounds  received  in  battle  as  a  Federal  soldier.      Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayden 
are  the  parents  of  the  following  children:     Thomas  H.,  deceased;  Mag- 
dalena  (Hayden)    Moran,  deceased;  Katharyn  E. ;  Ellen  J.;  John  P.; 
Robert  H. ;  Francis  S. ;  Mary  G. ;  Agnes  P. ;  Joseph  T. ;  and  William  L. 
They  are  the  grandparents  of  the  following  children :     Magdalen    M. 
]\Ioran,  T.  Joseph  Moran,  and  Gertrude  E.  Moran,  deceased ;  A.  Mag- 
dalen Havden  and  Cathleen  M.  Havden. 


354  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

LEVI  MORRIS  HOLMES. 

Levi  Morris  Holmes,  proprietor  of  the  Berkshire  Business  Col- 
lege and  leading  instructor  of  the  faculty  (jf  that  important  and  pro- 
gressive educational  institution,  was  born  in  Adams  countv.  Indiana. 
August  II,  1864.  His  primary  education  was  derived  from  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  place,  and  this  was  supplemented  bv  a  full  course 
at  the  Normal  University,  Lebanon.  Ohio.  Added  to  this  and  in  fur- 
ther jDreparation  for  his  subsequent  career  as  teacher,  he  pursued  spe- 
cial studies  at  the  Eastern  Indiana,  Central  Indiana  and  Xorthern  In- 
diana Normal  schools,  and  also  took  the  full  course  at  Oberlin  (Ohio) 
Business  College.  His  inceptive  work  as  teacher  was  in  the  public 
schools  of  Adams,  Jay  and  Delaware  counties.  Indiana,  and  following 
this  was  for  eight  years  principal  of  the  business  and  elocution  depart- 
ments in  Central  Indiana  and  Eastern  Indiana  Normal  schools.  For 
two  years  immediately  prior  to  coming  to  New  England,  he  was  em- 
ploved  as  an  expert  accountant  for  indi'\'idual.  companv  and  corporate 
interests.  In  1897  he  came  to  Massachusetts,  and  for  one  year  was 
one  of  the  instructors  and  in  charge  of  the  business  department  of 
Bliss  Business  College,  North  Adams.  One  year  later,  July.  1898.  he 
purchased  from  Mr.  A.  S.  Friese  the  Berkshire  Business  College. 

This  institution  is  the  development  of  a  small  school  founded  in 
Pittsfield  in  the  '60s  by  a  Mr.  Carter,  and  was  then  known  as  Carter's 
Coiumercial  School.  Mr.  Carter  was  succeeded  by  Benjamin  Chick- 
ering,  who  changed  its  name  to  Chickering  Commercial  College,  and 
upon  the  latter's  demise  it  was  conducted  by  his  widow.  She  in  turn 
sold  it  to  one  of  her  teachers,  Miss  Carrie  Weaser,  and  her  successors 
were  Messrs.  Shaw  and  Tang\^e.  who  changed  the  name  of  the  insti- 
tution to  that  bv  which  it  has  ever  since  been  known.     Upon  the  de- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  ?.55 

cease  of  ^Nlr.  Tangye,  Mr.  Friese.  above  named.  ])iirchased  the  1:)usiness 
from  the  siirvixing  partner.  ]Mr.  Sliaw.  who  was  conducting"  a  similar 
institution  at  XcM'th  Adams.  From  the  outset  of  Mr.  Hohnes'  man- 
agement the  sphere  of  usefuhiess  has  been  broadened  by  a  constantly 
increasing  patronage  and  an  added  demand  for  the  services  of  its  grad- 
uates, and  has  incidentall}'  contrilnited  in  no  small  measure  to  the  well 
deserved  reputation  of  Berkshire  county  for  superiority  in  her  educa- 
tional resources.  An  interesting  fact  in  connection  with  the  work  of 
the  college  is  that  fourteen  of  the  graduates  from  one  of  its  classes, 
that  of  T903,  were  added  to  the  staff  of  office  employes  of  one  of  Berk- 
shire countv's  greatest  manufacturing  plants.  The  curriculum  of  the 
college  includes  thorough  instruction  in  all  of  the  studies  essential  to 
a  complete  business  education,  namely :  The  business  course,  short- 
hand and  tvpewriting  course  and  the  Fngiish  course.  The  first  includes 
bookkeeping,  double  and  single  entry,  lousiness  forms,  rapid  calcula- 
tions, business  arithmetic,  business  penmanship,  business  law.  practical 
grammar,  business  practice,  general  office  work,  commercial  paper,  bank- 
ing, spelling  and  definitions  and  office  customs.  The  second  includes 
shorthand,  spelling,  penmanship,  typewriting,  punctuation,  letter-press 
copying,  business  correspondence,  business  forms,  practical  office  work, 
arrangement,  filing  letters,  invoices,  and  court  work.  The  third  in- 
cludes arithmetic,  grammar,  reading-,  spelling,  penmanship,  letter  writ- 
ing, business  forms  and  rajiid  addition.  These  courses  are  distinct  and 
separate.  A  student  may  take  either  the  business  or  shorthand  course, 
or  combine  the  two.  The  Engiish  course  may  be  taken  for  itself  or  as 
a  preparatorv  to  the  others.  ]\Ir.  Holmes  is  of  a  quiet,  unassuming, 
unpretentious  disposition;  careful  in  methods  and  habits  and  thoroughly 
aljve  to  the  practical  and  modern  ideas  which  enter  into  all  the  work 
under  his  charge.     He  is  an  earnest  and  firm  believer  in  the  power  and 


356  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

success  of  individual  efforts,,  holding  that  great  benefit  is  derived  for 
both  parties  from  the  placing  of  good,  well-prepared  help  with  good, 
well-meaning  employers — the  right  person  in  the  right  place  meaning 
brilliant  success  for  both.  From  the  many  young  men  and  women 
who  have  gone  out  from  his  care  and  tuition  into  the  active  duties  of 
business  life  in  every  avenue,  making  success  for  themselves  and  em- 
ployers, thus  with  his  plan  of  solving  the  labor  problem,  Mr.  Holmes 
derives  the  greatest  pleasure  in  placing  his  energies  and  institution  at 
the  service  of  the  business  world.  With  these  sterling  qualifications 
and  exalted  methods  of  organizing  and  presenting  a  course  of  study 
for  an  active  business  life  work  it  makes  the  environment  of  Berkshire 
Business  College  most  fitting  to  inspire  zeal,  energy  and  higher  business 
motives.  Mr.  Holmes  was  married  November  8,  1888,  to  x\manda 
Merrill,  daughter  of  J.  S.  Merrill,  of  Jay  county,  Indiana.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Holmes  have  three  children  :  Eva  Beatrice,  Arthur  William  and 
Clarence  Merrill.  They  reside  at  20  Wallace  place,  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Holmes  is  a  member  of  the  Indenendent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

WILLIAM  ANDREW  FAHEY. 

Among  the  younger  merchants  of  Pittsfield  whose  private  enter- 
prise and  public  service  have  alike  appealed  to  the  favor  of  the  citizens 
of  the  county  seat,  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs 
may  be  appropriately  mentioned.  Born  in  Pittsfield,  July  26,  1875, 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city,  and  finding  his  initial  and  all 
subsequent  employment  there,  he  is  essentially  a  home  product.  Early 
recognized  by  his  political  associates  as  a  man  to  whom  the  duties  and 
responsibilities  of  office  could  be  safely  entrusted,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  357 

seven  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  and  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature,  and  re-elected  the  following-  year.  He  demonstrated 
the  wisdom  of  his  constituents  l3y  ser^■ing  acceptably  during  the  first 
year  upon  the  Fisheries  and  Game,  committee,  and  the  second  year  upon 
the  Mercantile  Aft'airs  committee. 

As  a  boy  of  fourteen  \\'illiam  A.  Fahev  entered  the  employ  of  J. 
H.  &  J.  J.  Enright,  shoe  merchants  of  Pittsfield,  and  continued  with 
this  firm  up  to  September,  1905,  having  been  promoted  from  time  to 
time  to  increasingly  responsible  duties,  until  he  was  recognized  as  the 
leading  salesman  in  the  employ  of  the  firm,  buying  as  well  as  selling 
therefor,  and  thus  gaining  such  general  insight  into  the  business  as 
well  equipped  him  for  his  entrance  into  the  same  line  on  his  own 
account.  At  the  date  last  mentioned  ]\Ir.  Fahey,  in  association  with 
Mr.  Francis  A.  Farrell,  opened  an  admirably  fitted  ancT  thoroughly  well 
stocked  retail  shoe  house  in  the  IMerrill  Block,  on  North  street,  an  enter- 
prise which  met  with  most  gratifying  success  from  the  outset,  and  which 
gives  promise  of  attaining  a  position  second  to  none  in  that  trade. 

Among  the  local  organizations  A\hich  ha\'e  had  an  especial  interest 
for  Mr.  Fahey  and  for  which  his  services  have  been  valuable  is  the 
Retail  Clerks'  Protective  Association,  in  aftiliation  with  the  American 
Federation  of  Labor,  Mr.  Fahey  serving  one  year  as  its  president.  He 
is  also  actively  interested  in  the  work  of  the  Father  Matthew  Total 
Abstinence  Society,  a  branch  of  the  Diocesan  Union,  and  has  served  as 
its  president,  is  now  (1905)  treasurer  of  the  society,  and  has  served 
as  delegate  to  all  of  the  temperance  conventions  that  ha^•e  been  held  in 
the  Springfield  diocese  for  the  past  fifteen  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society  of  Pittsfield,  of  St.  Joseph's  church,  and 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  Division  No.  12. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Fahey,  Patrick  and  Anne  (Hynes)  Fahey,  both 


358  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  whom  are  deceased,  were  married  in  the  ccuinty  Gahvay,  Ireland,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1864,  locating  in  Pittsfield,  where  he  was 
for  thirty  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Boston  and  Albany  railroad.  Five 
■oi  the  brothers  of  the  late  Patrick  Fahey  also  came  to  Berkshire  county, 
and  three  of  these  are  still  residents  of  Pittsfield,  viz  :  John,  Edward 
and  Michael — John  for  thirty-four  years  also  an  employe  of  the  Bos- 
ton and  Albany  railroad ;  Michael,  a  memljer  of  the  police  force  of 
Pittsfield;  and  Edward,  employed  in  mercantile  pursuits. 

ALMON  EVERETT  HALL. 

Almon  E.  Hall,  of  Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  old  New  England  families.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  Loton  Hall,  a  native  of  Enfield,  Connecticut,  who  removed  to  Ver- 
mont and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Halifax.  He  married  Rhoda  Nichols 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Obed  Hall,  son  of  Loton  and  Rhoda  (Nichols)  Hall,  was  born  in 
Halifax,  Vermont,  October  12,  1821.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days 
under  the  parental  roof,  while  in  the  public  schools  he  acquired  his  edu- 
cation. He  taught  school  for  several  terms,  learned  and  followed  the 
trade  of  blacksmith  and  then  entered  mercantile  life  in  Stamford,  Ver- 
mont, but  afterward  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  lumber. 
He  served  for  a  time  as  town  clerk  and  filled  other  local  offices,  taking 
an  active  part  in  the  management  of  the  town  affairs  and  rendering 
capable  services  because  of  his  patriotic  and  progressive  spirit  that  de- 
sired first  the  welfare  of  his  community.  His  fellow  townsmen  recog- 
nizing his  worth  and  ability  called  him  to  still  higher  offices,  and  he 
acted  as  associate  judge  of  Bennington  county,  also  served  as  a  dele- 
ofate  to  the  constitutional   convention,   where  he  aided   in   framing  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  359 

organic  law  of  the  state,  and  was  also  chosen  as  a  representative  to  the 
general  assembly  of  Vermont.  He  acted  as  superintendent  of  schools 
in  his  home  town,  and  contributed  to  the  material,  political,  intellectual 
and  moral  activities  of  the  place.  He  served  as  class  leader  and  steward 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  fifty  years,  and  was  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  for  thirty  years.  He  died  in  Montpelier, 
Vermont.  October  27,  1898.  while  attending  the  legislature  as  a  mem- 
ber. His  influence  was  ever  given  on  the  side  of  reform,  right  and 
progress,  and  he  was  known  as  one  of  the  distinctly  representative  men 
of  Bennington  county,  honored  and  respected  by  all  with  whom  he  was 
associated.  Judge  Hall  married  Miss  Susan  Everett,  a  native  of  Hali- 
fax, and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Everett,  a  prosperous  farmer.  Her  grand- 
father was  Dr.  Jeremiah  Everett,  a  physician  of  Westminster,  Massa- 
chusetts, who  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  Patriot  army  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  He  is  descended  from  a  common  ancestor  with  Gov- 
ernor Edward  Everett.  Mrs.  Hall,  who  survived  her  husband,  made 
her  home  with  her  son,  Almon  E..  up  to  the  time  of  her  decease.  Octo- 
ber 7,  1900.  Of  her  children,  the  daughter.  Adelia  M.,  is  the  wife  of 
Rev.  Fayette  Nichols,  a  Methodist  minister  belonging  to  the  New  Eng- 
land conference. 

Almon  E.  Hall,  the  elder  of  the  children,  was  born  in  Stamford, 
Vermont,  December  6.  1846,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  town  and  at  the  Wesleyan  Academy,  at  \\^ilbraham,  Massachu- 
setts, subsequent  to  which  tinie  he  entered  the  ^^'esleyan  University  of 
!Middletown.  Connecticut,  froui  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1872.  winning  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Later 
lie  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  same  institution. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society,  with  which  he  became 
affiliated  during  his  college  days.     After  completing  his  course  in  the 


360  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Boston   University   Theological    School,    he   joined   the    New    England 
Southern  Conference  in  1874  and  was  assigned  to  a  church  in  Dighton, 
Massachusetts,  the  pulpit  of  which  he  had  supplied  during  the  previous 
3'ear.     A  year  later  he  took  charge  of  St.  Paul's  church  in  Providence, 
Rhode    Island,    and    afterward    went    to    West    Dennis,    Massachusetts, 
where  his  labors  were  attended  with  gratifying  results,  but   in    1878, 
owing  to  ill  health,  he  was  forced  to  relinquish  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry and  for  the  next  few  years  was  obliged  to  abstain   from   active 
labor.     After  a  period  of  rest  on  the  farm  at  Stamford  he  took  charge 
of  a  grist  mill  and  small  store  at  Clarksburg,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years.     In  1886  he  purchased  S.  T.  Mather's  general 
store,   which   he   enlarged   and   conducted   until   December,    1901.      He 
then  sold  that  property  to  Arthur  G.  Bratton,  of  Williamstown,  and  in 
November,  1901,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  brushes 
under  the  firm  name  of  the   Hall-Hef¥erman   Brush   Company,   at  46 
Lincoln   street,    North   Adams.     The   firm  manufactures   power   rotary 
brushes  which  are  used  in  cotton  mills,   print  works,   shoe  and  brass 
factories,  and  for  general  polishing.     Mr.  Hall  is  president  of  the  Will- 
iamstown Savings  Bank,  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee  since  its  incor- 
poration.    During  the  summer  of  1904  he  was  elected  to  the  former 
office  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Dr.  John  Bascom,  who  retired  on 
account  of  ill  health,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year  was  regularly 
elected  president  for  a  full  term.     He  is  thus  actively  identified  with 
the  financial  interests  in  Williamstown,  as  well  as  with  the  productive 
industries  of  northern  Berkshire.     As  his  moneyed  resources  have  in- 
creased with  his  success  in  business  he  has   invested  quite  largely  in 
real  estate,  having  developed   a   tract  of  land   and   laid  out   Hall   and 
Maple   streets,    Windsor.       He   has    erected   several    dwellings    on    this 
and   other  property  in  the  town.     Aside  from  his   business   interests 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  361 

Mr.  Hall  .has  contributed  in  large  measure  to  various  activities  of  W'ill- 
iamstown.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  politics,  active  in  the  work  of 
the  party  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  various  Republican  conventions. 
He  takes  a  special  interest  in  educational  matters,  assisting  materially 
in  improving  the  public  schools  of  Stamford,  Vermont,  and  is  also  chair- 
man of  the  committee  that  erected  the  \Villiamstown  high  school ;  while 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  he  rendered  signal  service  in  advanc- 
ing the  standard  of  public  education.  He  was  postmaster  of  Williams- 
town  station  from  the  time  the  office  was  opened  in  1889  until  1896, 
when  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  legislature  and 
his  son  succeeded  the  father  as  postmaster.  In  1897  Mr.  Hall  was  re- 
elected to  the  general  assembly,  and  during  the  two  years  he  spent  in 
the  house  was  active  on  the  floor  and  in  the  committee  rooms.  He 
served  on  the  ways  and  means  committee,  the  liquor  law  commission, 
and  was  clerk  of  the  committee  on  education.  He  assisted  in  passing 
an  act  requiring  all  liquors  carried  by  express  companies  from  license 
to  no  license  towns  to  be  properly  labeled  and  a  record  kept  of  same. 
He  was  also  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  Greylock  Park 
bill,  in  securing"  the  North  Adams  Normal  School  appropriation,  and 
in  passing  the  law  for  the  further  protection  of  song  birds.  He  also 
assisted  in  defeating  a  bill  to  exempt  college  property  from  further 
taxation. 

On  April  2,  1874,  Almon  E.  Hall  was  married  to  Caroline  E. 
Beard,  of  Dighton,  Massachusetts,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Elisha  D. 
Beard.  He  has  two  children,  Damon  Everett  Hall,  who  won  the  de- 
gree of  Bachelor  of  Arts  upon  his  graduation  from  Williams  College 
with  the  class  of  1897,  and  who,  having  studied  law  at  the  Boston  Uni- 
versity Law  School,  w^as  admitted  to  the  bar  and  is  now  with  the  law 
firm  of  Hurllnn-t,   Tones  &  Cabot  in  Boston.     He  married  Miss  Isabel 


362  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Leig-hton,  in  October.  1902.  a  daughter  of  John  Leig"hton,  of  Somer- 
vihe,  Massachusetts.  EHzabeth  M.  Hall  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 
The  family  reside  at  Williamstown,  where  they  are  prominent  socially. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Hall  is  a  Royal  Arch  ]\Iason  and  also  one  of  the  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution.  Controlling-  extensive  business  interests, 
his  efforts  along-  public  lines  have  at  the  same  time  been  far-reaching 
and  beneficial  and  he  is  to-day  honored  and  respected  throughout  the 
state.  His  efficient  labors  on  behalf  of  the  public  good  have  won  for 
him  general  recognition. 

FRANKLIN  BURT  COOK. 

Although  alien  to  Berkshire  countv  the  gentleman  whose  name 
forms  the  caption  of  this  article  has  l:)een  for  so  long  a  period  identified 
with  one  or  other  of  its  important  interests  as  to  have  long  since  been 
accepted  as  a  son  of  its  soil,  his  general  education  ha\'ing  been  com- 
pleted at  Hinsdale  and  a  ^•ery  large  share  of  his  luisiness  carreer  having 
been  within  the  borders  of  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  Chester,  Hampden  county,  Massachusetts,  March 
16,  1835,  son  of  the  late  John  J.  and  Lucy  S.  (Taylor)  Cook,  also  na- 
tives of  Chester  and  descendants  of  early  English  settlers  of  New  Eng- 
land. 

l"he  late  John  J.  Cook  was  a  son  of  Parley  Cook,  a  Guilford,  Con- 
necticut, farmer,  who  settled  in  Chester  toward  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  His  wife  was  Lovina  Burt,  whose  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  patriot  army  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  late  John  J.  Cook,  born  July  13,  1806,  owned  and  operated  a 
small  cotton  mill  at  North  Chester,  where  he  was  also  engaged  in  other 
manufacturing.     He  died   in  March,   1890. 


m- 


c?^.<^.^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  363 

John  J.  and  Lucy  S.  (Taylor)  Cook  had  three  children,  a  son 
(the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch)  and  two  daughters,  Marion  L. 
and  Anna  E.  Cook,  both  deceased,  the  former  dying  in  July,  1887,  the 
latter  in  April,   1884. 

Franklin  Burt  Cook  received  his  initial  schooling  in  North  Ches- 
ter and  attended  Hinsdale  Academy  for  one  year,  during  the  latter 
period  being  a  member  of  the  family  of  the  late  Charles  H.  IMunkett, 
whose  \vife,  N^ancy  (Taylor)  Plunkett,  was  a  maternal  aunt  of  the 
young  student. 

His  schooling  finished  he  returned  to  Chester,  where  he  remained  in 
his  father's  employ  until  1855.  when  he  returned  to  Hinsdale  to  enter 
the  service  of  Charles  H.  Plunkett,  in  the  latter's  general  store  at  that 
place,  acting  latterly  as  manager  of  the  business.  Upon  the  latter's  de- 
cease five  years  later  Mr.  Cook  and  Amory  E.  Taylvir  ]nu-chased  the 
store  in  (juestion  and  continued  its  successful  conduct  in  ])artnershi]:) 
association  under  the  firm  name  of  F.  B.  Cook  &  Com])an\',  up  to  April 
I,  1864,  when  Mr.  Cook  sold  his  interest  therein  to  his  partner. 

The  following  year  he  entered  the  employ  of  Hayden,  Gere  &  Com- 
pany, water  faucet,  gas  and  steam  valve  manufacturers,  of  \\'illiams- 
burg,  ^Massachusetts.  Three  years  later  the  firm  located  a  l)ranc]i  plant 
at  S])ringfiel(l  and  the  com])any  was  incorporated,  Mr.  Cook  purchasing 
stock  therein  and  being  installed  a.s  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  Spring- 
field branch,  which  was  operated  under  the  name  of  the  E.  Stebbins 
Company. 

In  'iS/^  Mr.  Cook,  in  connection  with  Mr.  A\'.  A.  Tavlor,  purchased 
the  remainder  of  the  stock  of  the  company  not  owned  In-  Mr.  Cook,  and 
operated  the  ])lant  in  partnership  association  u])  to  its  destruction  1)v  fire 
in   1875.      Additional   capital   was  then   secured  and   a  new   plant  built 


3fi4  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  operated  at  Brightwood,  Mr.  Cook  selling  his  interest  therein  in 
1879. 

The  following"  year,  having-  returned  to  Hinsdale,  he  re-established 
himself  in  general  merchandising  and  continued  to  he  thus  engaged  until 
1894.  A  period  of  rest  and  recuperation  was  followed  in  1896-7  by  his 
charge  of  the  Albany  ofifice  of  L.  M.  Payne,  General  Agent  New  Eng- 
land ]\Iutual  Life  Insurance  Company. 

In  1898  he  was  appointed  to  office,  of  which  he  is  incumbent,  deputy 
collector  of  internal  revenue  for  the  Ninth  Division  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Cook's  name  is  a  synonym  for  uncompromising  integrity,  and 
his  friends  are  onh'  limited  by  the  number  of  his  acquaintances. 

He  married,  June  8.  1870-,  Aurelia  W.,  daughter  of  Charles  H. 
and  Mary  Granger  of  Saco,  Maine.  One  child  born  of  this  union  died 
in  infancy;  Mrs.  Cook  died  April  7,  1871.  Mr.  Cook  is  a  member  of 
Hinsdale  Congregational  Church  and  was  its  treasurer  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  for  eight  years  treasurer  and 
general  manager  of  Hinsdale  Co-operative  Creamerv  Company. 

ORLANDO  CURTIS  BIDWELL. 

The  legal  profession  of  Berkshire  county  has  an  able  and  active 
representative  in  Orlando  Curtis  Bidwell,  of  Great  Barrington.  Mr. 
Bidwell  belongs  to  a  family  which  was  founded  in  America  by  Thomas 
Bidwell,  W'ho  came  to  and  located  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  His  son, 
the  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell,  came  thence  in  1749  to  w^estern  Massa- 
chusetts, locating  in  Tyringham,  then  known  as  towmship  No.  i,  and 
soon  became  conspicuous  in  that  section  of  Tyringham  w'hich  now  con- 
stitutes the  town  of  Monterey.  He  was  a  man  of  property  and  pastor 
of  the  first  Congregational  church  in  that  vicinity.     His  son  and  name- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  365 

sake,  Adonijah  Bichvell.  great-grandfather  of  Orlando  C.  Bidwell,  was 
a  farmer.  Another  of  the  sons  of  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell,  while  a  resi- 
dent of  Stockhridge,  served  as  one  of  the  early  treasnrers  of  Berkshire 
county  and  also  as  attorney-general  of  Massachusetts.  Adonijah  Bid- 
well  (2)  had  a  son,  Barnabas  Bidwell,  who  also  followed  agricultural 
pursuits. 

Marshall  S.  Bidwell,  son  of  Barnabas  Bidwell.  was  the  largest 
landowner  in  the  town  of  Monterey,  using  his  estate  as  a  stock  farm 
and  raising  great  numbers  of  horses  and  cattle.  He  took  a  prominent 
part  in  public  affairs,  served  several  vears  as  chairman  of  the  board  of 
selectmen,  and  represented  his  town  in  1881  in  the  state  legislature. 
He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  Hampton  Institute,  Virginia.  In  re- 
ligious matters  he  adhered  Xo  the  Congregational  denomination,  and 
was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  church  of  which  he  was  an  active  mem- 
ber. He  married  Sophia  P.,  daughter  of  John  D.  Bidwell,  a  farmer, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  two  sons :  William  S.,  who  resides  at 
Monterey,  Massachusetts ;  and  Orlando  Curtis,  mentioned  at  length 
hereinafter.  Mrs.  Bidwell  died  in  1901,  and  the  death  of  Mr.  Bidwell 
occurred  in  July,   1902. 

Orlando  Curtis  Bidwell,  son  of  Marshall  S.  and  Sophia  P.  (Bid- 
well)  Bidwell,  was  born  ]\Iarch  17,  1862,  in  Monterey,  Massachusetts, 
and  received  his  preparatxiry  education  at  the  Lehigh  school.  He  then 
entered  Williams  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886. 
Choosing  to  devote  himself  to  the  profession  of  the  law.  he  began  its 
study  under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge  Seymour  Dexter,  at  Elmira, 
New  York,  and  in  1889  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1890  he  settled 
in  Great  Barrington,  where  he  has  since  remained  and  where  he  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has 
secured   for  himself  an   honoral)le  standing  both    for   legal  penetration 


366  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  fair-minded  dealing.  He  also  negotiates  transactions  in  insurance 
and  real  estate.  He  is  a  member  and  chairman  of  the  prudential  com- 
mittee of  the  fire  district  and  a  member  of  the  school  committee.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Library  Association,  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of 
clerk.  Since  1895  he  has  been  treasurer  of  the  Housatonic  Agricultural 
Society,  and  since  1900  one  of  the  trustees  of  Great  Barrington  and  a 
member  of  the  in\'estment  committee  and  attorney  for  the  Great  Bar- 
rington Savings  Bank.  He  is  a  member  of  Cincinnatus  Lodge.  F.  & 
A.  M..  and  Alonument  Chapter.  R.  A.  ]\L.  and  has  served  as  district 
deputy  grand  master  of  the  Fifteenth  Masonic  District  of  ALissachu- 
setts.  He  is  a  Republican  politically  and  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  He  married,  in  1891.  Helen  B..  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry 
M.  Higiey.  a  Congregational  minister  of  Salamanca.  New  York.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bidwell  ha^-e  four  children :  Margaret.  ]Marshall.  Gertrude 
and  Helen.     Both  i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Bidwell  are  active  in  church  work. 

\MLLL\M  J.  DE  VALL. 

A  machinist  of  exceptional  ability,  a  merchant  of  enterprise  and  a 
citizen  of  excellent  renute  is  he  whose  name  is  the  title  of  this  narrative. 
He  was  born  in  Ldster  county,  New  York,  June  22.  1848,  son  of  the 
late  \\^illiam  and  Hannah  (Purdy)  De  Vail,  also  natives  of  Ulster 
county,  the  former  of  French,  the  latter  of  Dutch  lineage. 

George  De  Vail,  the  grandfather  of  the  late  \\'illiam  De  Vail,  emi- 
grated from  France  and  came  to  the  .\merican  colonies  some  years  prior 
to  the  \\'ar  of  the  Revolution,  locating  in  Ulster  county.  New  York, 
where  he  juuxhased  and  cultivated  a  farm.  Of  his  children,  John  De 
Vail  succeeded  to  the  homestead  farm,  married  Betsey  Longyer  and 
reared  a  laree  familv  of  children,  of  whom  the  second  in  order  of  birth 


£^. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  307 

was  William  De  Vail,  born  1786.  He,  too.  tilled  the  soil  of  a  farm  in 
Ulster  county,  purchased  for  him  li}-  his  father,  and  to  this  he  added  to 
his  holdings  other  adjoining  farming"  lands  until  he  had  become  the  lead- 
ing' realt^•  owner  in  the  valley  which  earl)-  Ijecame  and  is  still  known  as 
De  Vail  Hollow.  He  was  a  leading  man  in  community  affairs  and  held 
various  local  otiices.  He  met  his  death  in  1859  through  being  thrown  by 
a  restive  young"  horse.  Of  his  children,  \\'illiam  J.  De  Vail  received  a 
public  school  education  and  as  a  young"  man  was  employed  in  the  freight 
carrying  business  on  the  Hudson  river.  He  suh-sequently  found  employ- 
ment in  the  mills  of  the  A.  T.  Stewart  Company,  at  Catskill,  Xew  York, 
where  he  served  as  overseer  in  the  shawl  niaking  plant  and  incidental  to 
this — being'  of  a  decided  mechanical  turn  of  mind — acquired  a  very 
thorough  knowledge  of  sewing  machine  construction. 

Through  this  his  services  were  sought  in  1883  bv  John  L.  Bradv, 
then  agent  at  Pittsfield  for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  Companv,  and 
for  two  years  Mr.  De  A-'all  assisted  Mr.  Brad}-  in  hoth  the  sales  and  re- 
pair departments  of  his  estal)lishment. 

In  1885,  upon  the  recommendation  of  Mr.  Bradv,  Mr.  De  Avail's 
ser^■ices  were  secured  for  the  charge  of  the  numerous  Singer  machines 
in  the  D.  ^[.  Collins  Company's  Knitting  Mills  at  Pittsfield,  an  associa- 
tion which  was  maintained  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  and  profit  of  em- 
ployers and  employed  up  to  1896.  In  the  latter  year,  when  the  merits 
of  the  then  new  safety  bicycles  were  the  sulqect  of  press  and  general 
comment,  ^Ir.  De  Y'aW,  helieving"  that  there  was  a  promising  future  for 
that  industry,  established  himself  in  a  Ijicyclc  salesroom  and  repair  shop 
on  Bank  Row,  Pittsfield,  remaining  in  that  exclusive  business  at  the  lo- 
cation named  until  1900.  By  this  time  the  automohile  had  usurped  the 
first  place  in  popular  favor  at  the  expense  of  the  bicycle,  and  Mr.  De  Wall 
decided  uix>n  engaging  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  conjunction  with  the 


368  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

old  business.  He  consequently  removed  the  latter  to  the  rear  of  zyy 
North  street,  stocking  the  large  store — the  front  of  the  premises  nameu 
— with  miscellaneous  merchandise,  having  as  specialties  news,  maga- 
zine, stationery  and  phonograph  departments.  He  also  established  a  cir- 
culating library,  the  institution  of  its  kind  of  the  county  seat. 

He  married,  Januai^  23,  186S,  Mary,  daughter  of  the  late  John 
Van  Steenberg,  a  farmer  of  Delaware  county.  New  York,  of  Holland 
extraction.  Two  daughters  born  of  this  marriage  are  Barbara,  wife  of 
Charles  Linberg,  patternmaker  for  E.  D.  Jones  Sons'  Company,  and 
Georgianna  De  Vall.  The  family  residence  is  265  West  street  and  its 
members  belong  to^  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Pittsfield. 


GEORGE  BROWNING. 

The  Browning  family  are  of  English  descent,  and  first  settled  in 
this  country  in  what  is  now  the  state  of  Rhode  Island. 

Ephraim  Browning,  of  Charleston,  Rhode  Island,  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  America,  and  Rebecca  Clark,  of  South  Kingston,  Rhode 
Island,  were  married  on  March  i,  1787.  and  were  the  parents  of  the 
family  of  children  who  settled  in  this  section  of  the  country.  Their 
children  were:  Gideon  C,  born  in  1788;  Rebecca,  born  in  1792; 
Charles,  born  in  1795;  Betsey,  born  in  1797;  Matilda,  born  in  1799; 
John  C.  born  in  1801  ;  Anson,  born  in  1804;  and 

Horace  Browning,  born  December  31,  1808,  married,  December 
31,  1834,  Catherine  R.  ^^'e^ls,  of  Rowe.  Massachusetts,  and  this  mar- 
riage united  the  most  prominent  family  of  the  neighboring  county  of 
Franklin  and  the  Brow^iing  family  of  this  vicinity.  They  made  their 
home  in  Rowe.  Massachusetts,  and  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
named    children:      Noah    Wells,    born    March    15.    1836:    Sarah    Reid, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  369 

born  April  3,  1838,  became  the  wife  of  Pratt  Stone,  and  they  reside  in 
Florence,  Alabama;  Frederic,  born  Julv  11.  1840,  and  his  death  oc- 
cnricd  in  New  Orleans  in  1869;  Arthur,  born  January  6,  1843,  died  at 
Rowe  in  1882;  Catherine  W.,  born  February  15,  1846,  became  the 
wife  of  Dr.  D.  \\\  Deane,  of  \\'ashington,  D.  C. ;  George,  born  July 
6,  1848,  mentioned  hereinafter;  John  W.,  born  February  24,  1851,  is 
married,  and  resides  with  his  family  in  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Helen, 
born  November  2,  1853,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

George  Browning,  of  Dalton,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts, 
was  born  July  6,  1848,  at  Rowe,  Massachusetts,  and  spent  the  first 
nine  years  of  his  life  there.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  town, 
which  was  then  an  enterprising  village,  in  which  his  grandfather  oper- 
ated a  mill  and  his  father  was  a  manufacturer  of  wooden  planes  such 
as  carpenters  use.  George  spent  four  years  of  his  life  in  Deerfield, 
where  he  attended  school,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  went  to 
live  W'ith  John  ^^'ells,  late  judge  of  the  Massachusetts  supreme  bench, 
in  Chicopee,  Massachusetts.  For  two  years  he  was  ai)  employe  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Chicopee.  When  only  seventeen  years  of  age 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  D.  C.  Colby  in  the  harness  business  in 
Holyoke,  and  this  is  the  trade  he  has  followed  more  or  less  ever  since. 
On  account  of  impaired  health  he  has  tried  to  secure  lighter  work,  but 
each  time  has  been  compelled  to  relinquish  his  position.  He  was  clerk 
in  the  patent  office  in  Washington,  D.  C,  for  a  short  period  of  time; 
traveled  for  \\'.  l'.  Lyht,  a  whip  manufacturer  of  Westfield,  Massa- 
chusetts; in  1872  he  settled  in  Cheshire,  buying  out  the  shop  of  W.  R. 
Scrivens,  which  he  conducted  for  nine  years,  and  it  is  now  occupied  by 
the  postoffice ;  for  a  number  of  years  he  managed  a  branch  store  for  a 
large  Waterbury  concern  at  Thompston,  Connecticut;  in  1886  he  re- 
turned to  Cheshire,  resided  there  until  189 1,  during  which  time  he  was 


370  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

in  poor  health,  and  in  1892  built  a  home  in  Dalton.  where  he  has  since 
resided.  February  18,  1873,  Mr.  Browning-  married  Imogene  Bryant, 
born  September  i,  1852,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Jennette  (Ryder) 
Bryant,  of  Cheshire,  Massachusetts.  Their  children  are :  Imogene  Bry- 
ant, born  March  T2,  1875,  died  in  infancy;  Julian,  born  July  23.  1877, 
deceased;  Roy,  born  December  23,  1880;  and  Robert  Wells,  born  June 
8,  1884.  The  two  boys  reside  with  their  parents  on  John  street,  Dalton. 
Massachusetts. 

EARLE  GREY  BALDWIN. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  narrative  was  principal 
of  the  high  school  of  Pittsfield  from  1877  to  1881,  and  is  accredited  with 
having  rendered  as  ei^cient  service  in  that  capacity  as  any  of  the  edu- 
cators who  had  preceded  or  have  succeeded  him.  Immediately  following 
his  retirement  from  the  principalship  named  he  established  a  preparatory 
school,  the  Wendell  Hall  School,  which  was  successfully  conducted  for 
several  years. 

Earle  G.  Baldwin  was  a  native  of  Coventry,  Orleans  county,  Ver- 
mont, born  December  9,  1847,  son  of  John  and  Emeline  (Tlirasher) 
Baldwin,  the  former  a  native  of  Westminster,  the  latter  of  Coventry, 
Vermont,  and  both  descendants  of  early  English  settlers  of  New  Eng- 
land. The  late  John  Baldwin  was  a  Baptist  preacher  whose  ministerial 
serA'ices,  covering  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  were  given  to  various 
charges  in  the  state  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  1808,  married  in 
earlv  manhood  and  died  in  1875.  Of  his  children,  Earle  Grey  Baldwin 
received  a  liberal  general  education,  which  was  completed  at  Amherst 
College  in  1871.  Immediately  thereafter  his  services  were  sought  for 
the  position  of  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Norwalk,  Connecticut, 
Avhence  he  went  to  Palmer,  Massachusetts,  to  occupy  a  similar  position 


^,e.-^£^-^  ^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  ;^.71 

for  the  following-  year.  In  1877  he  accepted  the  Pittsfield  position  as 
above  mentioned.  Since  the  close  of  his  school  connection  Mr.  Baldwin 
lias  been  \-ariously  engaged  in  journalistic  work,  for  four  years  of  the 
period  publishing  a  Lenox  society  paper,  Lenox  Life.  He  ser\'ed  as 
president  of  the  Berkshire  County  Teachers'  Association  in  1879  and 
1880,  and  during  this  time  a  number  oi  the  most  distinguished  edu- 
cators of  the  period  lectured  before  that  body. 

He  married  in  1872,  at  Amherst.  Margaret  E..  daughter  of  Rev. 
Pliny  H.  AMiite,  a  former  Congregational  minister  of  Coventry.  Rev. 
White  was  widely  and  favorably  kno\\  n  in  Vermont  as  one  of  the  most 
able  and  brilliant  pulpit  orators,  a  trenchant,  forceful  writer,  and  with 
an  especially  wide  range  of  historical  knowledge.  For  some  years  prior 
to  his  decease  he  was  president  of  the  A'ermont  Historical  Society,  and 
it  was  during  his  incumbency  of  that  ofhce  that  some  of  the  most  valuable 
accjuisitions  to  its  archives  were  secured.  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  (White) 
Baldwin  is  registrar  of  Peace  Party  Chapter,  Daughters  American  Rev- 
olution, of  Pittsfield. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  have  two  children:  William  Earle  Baldwin, 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  New  York  weekly  magazine  known  as 
"zA.utomoliile  Topics."  He  married  Edith  Brigham,  a  young  lady  of 
Dorchester,  Massachusetts.  The  second  child,  Winifred  May  Balchvin, 
is  an  operatic  sing'er  with  a  mezzo-soprano  \'oice,  now  (1905)  under 
engagement  with  that  well-known  impresario,  Henry  \\\  Savage.  The 
famil}-  reside  at  66  Pomeroy  avenue  and  attend  the  First  Congregational 
church. 


372  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

MARTIN  M.  BROWN,  M.  D. 

This  successful  medical  practitioner  and  prominent  citizen  of  North 
Adams  is  of  early  New  England  origin  on  both  sides,  being  a  lineal 
descendant  in  the  ninth  generation  of  Chad  Browne,  through  Daniel, 
Jabez,  William,  Eleazar,  Jonas,  Harvey  and  Russell  D.  Brown.  He  is  also 
descended,  directly  and  collaterally,  from  several  of  the  Mayflower  Pil- 
grims, namely :  Governor  William  Bradford,  through  William,  Will- 
iam, William,  Israel,  Abner,  Elisha  and  Susanna,  who  married  Jonas 
Browne;  Richard  Warren,  Elder  William  Brewster,  John  and  Priscilla 
(Mullins)  Alden,  througli  their  daughter  Elizabeth,  who  married  Will- 
iam Pabodie,  and  her  daughter  Ruth,  Edward  Dotey,  George  Soule, 
Jolm  Howlanci  and  J'jhn  Tilley.  The  Elearnden,  White,  Scott,  Jencks, 
Ballard,  Smith,  Angell,  Mowry,  Inman,  Cook,  Thompson,  Reed,  Por- 
ter, Bartlett,  Delano,  Peterson,  Edson,  and  Bennett  families  were  also 
among  his  ancestral  connections.  Daniel  Brown,  son  of  Chad  Browne, 
married  Alice  Hearnden,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Hearnden. 

Martin  M.  Brown,  M.  D.,  son  of  Russell  D.  Brown,  was  born  in 
Jacksonville,  Windham  county,  Vermont,  July  13,  1863,  son  of  Russell 
D'.  and  Eliza  (Millard)  Brown.  His  grandparents  were  Harvey  and 
Lucinda  (Fuller)  Brown,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  December  8, 
1801,  and  his  wife  was  born  August  14,  1808.  Both  were  natives  and 
life  long  residents  of  Vermont,  belonging  to  early  settled  families  of 
that  state.  Harvey  Brown  was  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  and 
prominent  residents  of  Jacksonville  in  his  day,  having  sensed  upon  the 
board  of  selectmen,  represented  his  district  in  the  legislature  and  acted 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  His  death  occurred  February.  1873,  and  his 
wife,  whom  he  married  in  1827,  died  July  8,  1882.  They  were  the 
parents   of  eight   chiklren.   namely:      Philo   Harvey,   born   January    16, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  373 

1829,  died  November  29,  1856;  Horton  Lewis,  born  September  12, 
1830;  Elliott  Al'vin  and  Alma  Eleanor,  twins,  who  were  born  August 
16,  1832;  Russell  D.,  whose  birth  will  be  recorded  presently;  Frederick 
P.,  born  March  31,  1840,  died  January  14,  1887;  Nancy  A.,  born  Febru- 
ary 28,  1842;  and  Orland  J.,  born  February  2,  1848.  Philo  H.  Brown 
married  Lucy  Sophia  Dairy mple,  who  is  no  longer  living.  Horton 
Lewis  Brown,  who  is  now  an  extensive  produce  merchant  in  Chicago, 
Illinois,  married  Cassendana  L.  Hicks.  Elliott  A.  Brown,  who  is  residing 
in  Jacksonville,  Vermont,  married  Mary  Hamilton.  Alma  E.  is  now 
the  widow  of  Charles  Franklin  Griihn,  of  Halifax,  Vermont.  Fred- 
erick P.  Brown  married  Ella  Preston.  Nancy  A.  is  the  wife  of  William 
M.  Sanford,  of  Stamford,  Vermont.  Orland  J.  Brown  is  now  a  leading 
physician  and  surgeon  of  North  Adams. 

Ru=sell  D.  BroAN'n.  the  father  of  Dr.  Martin  M.  Brown,  was  born 
in  Jacksonville,  AugusL  18,  1835.  Having  acquired  a  good  education 
he  taught  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town  for  some  time  dur- 
ing the  winter  season,  but  with  this  exception  the  active  period  of  his 
life  has  been  devoted  to  agriculture,  in  vvhich  he  has  realized  excellent 
results.  In  1899  he  retired  from  the  activities  of  life  and  is  now  re- 
siding in  North  Adams.  He  was  married  in  Clarksburg,  Massachusetts, 
August  28,  1862,  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Millard,  a  native  of  Stamford,  Ver- 
mont. The  children  of  this  union  are :  Martin  M.,  M.  D.,  the  principal 
subject  of  this  sketch ;  Eugene  Henr}-,  born  April  9,  1865,  married  Angle 
Bishop;  Edgar  Russell,  born  March  10,  1870,  married  Flelen  Miner,  of 
New  Haven.  Vermont;  Eflie  Loretta,  born  August  31,  1871,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Burton  B.  Fitch,  of  North  Adams;  and  Rufus  Leslie,  born 
May  24,  1877,  also  a  resident  of  that  city. 

Having  studied  preliminarily  in  the  district  schools  of  Jacksonville, 
Martin  M.  Brown  went  to  Chicago  when  sixteen  years  old  and  was  em- 


374  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

ployed  in  his  uncle's  store.  At  the  expiration  of  two  years  he  returned 
to  New  England  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  himself  for  a  professional 
life,  and  took  up  the  preliminary  study  of  medicine  under  the  direction 
of  his  uncle,  Dr.  Orland  J.  Brown,  of  North  Adams,  at  the  same  time 
attending  the  high  school  in  that  city,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1886.  He  immediately  entered  the  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 
wdiere  he  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  two  years  later,  and 
was  at  once  appointed  house  physician  and  surgeon  to  the  Chicago  Pres- 
byterian Hospital.  Resigning  that  post  a  year  later  to  accept  one  of  a 
similar  character  in  the  Cook  County  Hospital,  he  served  that  institu- 
tion with  marked  efficiency  for  one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
resigned  and  for  the  succeeding  fifteen  months  served  as  surgeon  to  the 
Union  Hospital  at  Ironwood,  Michigan.  In  1891  he  returned  to  North 
Adams,  where  he  has  ever  since  practiced  his  profession  with  gratifying 
success,  and  his  ability  as  a  general  practitioner  has  obtained  wide-spread 
recognition.  Although  practicing  with  equal  skill  both  medicine  and 
surgery  he  has  a  decided  preference  for  the  last  named  branch  of  his 
profession,  and  is  now  serving  as  visiting  surgeon  to  the  North  Adams 
Hospital.  Dr.  Brown  is  quite  active  in  civic  affairs,  especiallv  in  mat- 
ters relative  to  public  education,  and  has  served  two  terms  upon  the 
school  board,  a  portion  of  that  time  as  its  chairman.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  State,  the  Berkshire  District,  the  North  Berkshire 
and  the  Union  Medical  Societies,  having  served  as  president  of  the 
two  county  organizations,  and  in  addition  to  tlie  above  he  affiliates  with 
Lafayette  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons ;  Composite  Chapter,  Royal 
Arch  Masons;  St.  Paul's  Commandery,  Knight  Templars,  of  North 
Adams,  and  Melha  Temple,  Ancient  and  Accei)ted  Nobles  of  the  Order 
of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  of  Springfield.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Onega 
Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Wells  Encampment,  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  '  375 

of  Oiympian  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  Aside  from  his  endeavors 
to  safeguard  as  far  as  possible  the  health  of  the  community,  he  is  act- 
ively interested  in  its  moral  and  religious  welfare  as  well,  being  a 
leading  member  of  the  Universalist  church,  and  for  the  past  twelve  years 
he  has  served  upon  its  executive  board,  and  as  superintendent  of  its 
Sunday  school.  On  June  3,  1893,  Dr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  L.  Blakeslee,  daughter  of  Lorenzo  S.  and  Lestina 
(Bemis)  Blakeslee.  They  have  had  two  sons,  Lawrence  and  Orland 
B.,  neither  of  whom  are  now  li\'ing. 


HON.  HENRY  LAURENS  DAWES. 

Henry  Laurens  Dawes  was  born  at  Cummington,  Hampshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  October  13,  18 16.  His  family  is  a  branch  of 
that  of  the  same  name  which  is  distinguislied  in  politics  and  literature 
in  eastern  Massachusetts.  He  graduated  at  Yale  University  in  the  class 
of  1839.  While  a  student  at  law  he  taught  school  and  edited  the  Green- 
field Gazette.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842,  and  commenced  prac- 
tice at  North  Adams,  where,  for  a  time,  he  edited  the  Transcript.  He 
also  represented  the  town  in  the  legislatures  of  1848,  1849  '^'^'^^  1852, 
and  in  the  constitutional  convention  of  1853.  In  1850  he  was  elected  to 
the  state  senate.  From  1853  until  1857  he  was  district  attorney  for  the 
western  district  of  Massachusetts.  In  1857,  there  being  a  xtxy  decisive 
contest  pending  regarding  the  future  status  of  political  parties,  Mr. 
Dawes,  being  the  exponent  of  Republican  principles  in  the  westernmost 
district  of  Massachusetts,  was  chosen  by  a  large  majority  over  the  Dem- 
ocratic and  American  candidates.  And  he  represented  this  district  until 
1874,  when  he  declined  a  renomination.  In  the  following  session  of  the 
legislature  he  was  chosen  a  senator  of  the  United  States,  and  served  in 


87r.  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

that  capacity  for  many  years.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  he 
dechned  re-election,  and  Henry  Cabot  Lodge  was  his  successor.  Hon. 
Henry  L.  Dawes  was  for  many  years  a  citizen  of  Pittsfield,  Massachu- 
setts.    His  death  occurred  February  5,  1903. 

GEORGE  FRANKLIN  MILLER. 

George  Franklin  Miller,  whose  business  activity,  extensive  con- 
nections with  fraternal  interest  and  efficient  labor  in  behalf  of  public 
good  ha^^e  brought  him  a  general  recognition  in  North  Adams  and  west- 
ern Massachusetts,  was  born  in  Schaghticoke,  Rensselaer  county,  New 
York,  January  16,  1847.  His  father,  Joseph  Miller,  the  carriage  manu- 
facturer of  Greenwich,  New  York,  resided  at  that  place  for  seventy 
years,  a  period  exceeding  that  of  any  other  inhabitant,  and  died  there  in 
the  spring  of  1905. 

George  F.  Miller  accjuired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  subsequently  attended  Union  Village  Academy, 
Greenwich,  of  which  institution  Chester  Arthur  was  also  a  pupil.  He 
arrived  in  North  Adams  in  1867,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty  years, 
and  here  received  the  appointment  of  internal  revenue  collector,  acting 
in  that  capacity  for  three  years,  on  the  expiration  of  which  period  he 
became  bookkeeper  for  Mr.  Walden,  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  old 
town.  Later  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  line  of  insurance,  conduct- 
ing a  general  fire  insurance  business  on  Main  street  from  1867  to  1878, 
and  since  then  in  the  Burhngame  Block.  In  public  affairs  he  has  con- 
tinued prominent,  serving  as  treasurer  of  the  North  Adams  fire  district 
for  five  years,  while  for  eleven  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  board  of 
assessors.  Mr.  Miller  is  identified  with  various  fraternal  organizations. 
He  belongs  to  Grevlcck  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Composite  Chapter,  R. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  3TT 

A.  M. :  St.  Paul  Commanclerv,  K.  T. ;  and  is  chairman  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Masonic  Hall.  He  has  held  office  of  district  deputy 
grand  high  priest  of  Berkshire  county,  and  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  his  lodge,  chapter,  aiid  commandery,  while  of  the  chapter  he  is 
a  past  master,  past  high  ]iriest  and  past  commander.  He  is  in  thorough 
sympathy  with  the  work,  the  tenets  and  teachings  of  the  order,  and  in 
him  is  exemplified  the  beneficent  spirit  of  th.e  craft.  Mr.  Miller  was 
married  to  Miss  Idella  Adams,  a  daughter  of  Jasper  Hyde  Adams,  who 
was  a  prominent  and  highh'  respected  business  man  of  North  Adams  and 
was  a  descendant  in  the  eighthi  generation  of  Henry  Adams,  of  Brain- 
tree,  ]\Iassachusetts.  ]NJr.  and  ]\Irs.  Miller  had  two  children,  Harry  A., 
and  Elsie,  but  the  son  died  in  his  twenty-fourth  year.  He  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Amherst  College,  and  following  the  completion  of  his  education 
joined  his  father  in  business,  but  died  very  suddenl}-  about  a  year  later. 

GEORGE  COFFIN  HUBBEL. 

A  conscientious  and  skillful  dental  practitioner  and  a  good  citizen 
is  he  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch.  He  was  born  June  i,  1870, 
in  Hudson,  New  York,  son  of  Edgar  G.  and  Josephine  (Groat)  Hub- 
bel,  both  natives  of  Hudson  and  respectively  of  English  and  French 
descent.  Edgar  G.  Hubbel,  a  former  resident  of  Pittsfield,  and  for 
sixteen  years  librarian  of  the  Athenaeum,  is  now  a  resident  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  where  he  represents  the  New  York  Mutual  Life 
Insurance  Comi)any  as  special  agent.  Mr.  Hubbel  served  in  the  civil 
war  as  second  lieutenant  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Fift}-ninth  New 
York,  the  famous  regiment  known  as  "  Molineux  Bears." 

George  Coffi.n  Hubbel  was  graduated  from  Pittsfiield's  high  school, 
class  of  '87,  then  entering  the  dental  deitartmcnt  of  the  University  of 


37S  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Pennsylvania,  subsequently  attending  and  being  graduated  from  Phila- 
delphia Dental  College,  class  of  '90.  The  first  year  of  his  practice  was 
spent  in  Bristol,  Connecticut,  following  which  he  was  engaged  in  prac- 
tice at  Torrington,  Connecticut,  up  to  1895,  when  failing  health  mani- 
fest in  pulmonary  weakness,  caused  by  too  close  application  to  a  large 
and  growing  practice,  necessitated  his  temporary  withdrawal  from  his 
profession.  Two  years  of  out-door  life  and  exercise,  spent  largely  in 
Florida,  restored  him  to  gox3d  health,  and  in  1897  '""e  returned  to  Pitts- 
field,  resuming  his  dental  practice,  in  which  he  has  continued  to  be  suc- 
cessfully engaged.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Western 
District  Dental  Societies;  the  Berkshire  Automobile  Club,  and  Pitts- 
field  Rod  and  Gun  Club,  being  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  last  named 
organization.  A  trophy  belonging  to  Dr.  Hubbel,  of  which  he  is  justly 
proud,  is  the  stuffed  skin  of  a  nine  pound  and  two  ounce  black  bass 
taken  by  him,  the  largest  fish  of  its  kind  that  has  ever  been  caught  in 
Berkshire  county.  Dr.  Hubbel  married,  October  5,  1892,  Love  Le- 
Baron,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  H.  Manning  (see  sketch,  this  work). 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbel  have  two  children :  Huelat  Newton  and  Grace 
Josephine  Hubbel.  The  family  reside  at  104  Elizabeth  street,  and 
attend  St.  Stephen's  Episcopal  church. 

SALMON  BURLINGAME. 

Salmon  Burlingame,  at  one  time  a  prominent  husiness  man  of 
North  Adams  and  a  prominent  representative  of  the  manufacturing  in- 
terests, was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Scituate,  February  11,  1800.  He  was  the  son  of  Cyrus  and  Mercy 
(Salisbury)  Burlingame.  When  a  youth  of  twelve  years  his  parents, 
with  their  six  children,  came  to  North  Adams.  Massachusetts. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  379 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  Salmon  Bnrlingame  went  to  Pownal, 
Vermont,  where  he  entered  upon  a  two  years'  apprenticeship  with 
Mr.  Artemas  Crittenden,  in  order  to  learn  the  trade  of  making-  satinet. 
When  he  had  completed  his  term  of  indenture  he  returned  to  North 
Adams.  In  1826,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Crittenden,  he  built  a  mill  on 
the  present  site  of  the  Miner  school  at  the  "Union."  Here  they  conducted 
business  until  1829,  when  he  sold  out.  He  afterward  occupied  a  mill 
owned  at  the  time  by  Turner  and  Laflin,  subsecjuently  the  Gould  mill, 
situated  on  the  river  bank  between  the  Eagle  mill  and  Union  street. 
Here  he  manufactured  woolen  g^oods,  principallv  satinets,  and  was  con- 
ducting a  prosperous  business  when  the  year  1837  invoh'ed  the  country 
in  a  disastrous  financial  panic,  and  Mr.  Bnrlingame,  together  with  many 
others,  met  with  serious  business  re\erses.  The  failure  of  others  caused 
his  own  failure.  All  which  he  had  invested,  together  with  the  manufac- 
tured products  of  the  business,  was  lost,  and  he  was  left  almost  penni- 
less. There  was  also  the  burden  of  a  large  indeijtedness  still  upon  him, 
but  years  afterward  he  discharg-ed  this  to  the  full  extent,  paying-  both 
principal  and  interest.  It  became  the  one  great  object  of  his  life,  and 
although  there  was  no  legal  obligation  that  he  should  follow  this  course, 
he  found  it  to  be  a  moral  duty,  and  was  not  content  until  he  had  fully 
recompensed  every  one  to  whom  he  was  indebted.  Following  the  fail- 
ure of  his  business  as  a  woolen  manufacturer  he  started  out  again  in  life, 
the  second  time  without  capital.  He  was  resolute  and  determined,  how- 
ever, and  this  pro\e(l  the  basis  of  the  success  which  came  to  him  in  later 
years.  In  1839  he  purchased  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  E.  Norman,  which 
was  kept  in  a  building"  belonging  to  Captain  Edward  Richmond  on  Main 
street,  and  for  eight  years  conducted  this  mercantile  enterprise  alone. 
In  1847  Mr.  G.  W.  Bradford  was  admitted  lo  ]>artnershi|),  and  at  the 
same  time,  he  ha\ing  bought  the  real  estate  of  ]\Ir.  Richnmnd.  erected  on 


3S0  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  same  site  a  laroe  three-story  brick  biiildinsf  known  as  the  New  Brad- 
ford block,  in  tlie  lower  story  of  which  their  business  was  located.  They 
dealt  in  drugs  and  medicines,  hardware,  mill  supplies  and  building-  ma- 
terials. In  1850  Addison  J.  Ray  purchased  Mr.  Bradford's  interest  and 
became  one  of  the  proprietors,  under  the  firm  name  of  Burlingame  & 
Ray.  At  this  time  the  store  was  removed  to  a  building  owned  by  E. 
Southwick  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  A  fire  in  185 1  nearly  de- 
stroyed the  establishment.  Burlingame  &  Ray  then  purchased  the  prop- 
erty, also  an  adjoining  building,  and  replaced  the  wooden  structure  with 
a  three-story  brick  block.  In  1868,  when  Mr.  Ray  sold  his  interest  in 
the  company,  Mr.  Burlingame  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  real  estate, 
and  George  M.  Darby  a  partner  in  the  Imsiness.  Later  W.  F.  Darbv  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm,  which  has  since  been  known  as  Burlingame 
&  Darby. 

September  iS,  1822,  Mr.  Burlingame  was  married  to  Miss  Sophia 
Darby,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Darby,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settle 
of  North  Adams.  They  had  one  son  and  four  daughters.  The  son  died 
in  infancy,  Julia  in  1877.  and  Fannie  in  1903,  the  others,  Phebe  and 
Cynthia,  are  still  living.  The  last  named  became  the  wife  of  W.  H. 
Dumville  in  1867.  The  death  of  Mr.  Burlingame  occurred  in  1882. 
Almost  fifty  years  before  that  time  he  had  joined  the  Baptist  church  of 
North  Adams  and  remained  a  worthy  member  there  until  his  death. 
For  twenty-one  years  he  served  as  church  treasurer  and  was  always 
active  and  helpful  in  the  church  work.  In  matters  of  citizenship  he 
was  patriotic  and  progressive,  served  as  selectman  for  se^'eral  terms, 
twice  represented  the  town  of  North  Adams  in  the  general  court  and  was 
also  one  of  the  state  valuation  committee.  He  was  a  trustee  and  vice 
president  of  the  North  Adams  Savings  Bank  and  treasurer  of  the  Hoosac 
Vallev  Agricultural  Societv-     He  was  a  most  conscientious  man,  true  to 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  381 

every  trust  reposed  in  him  and  every  obligation  that  devolved  upon  him, 
and  his  course  was  so  straightforward  and  honorable  that  he  left  to  his 
family  an  untarnished  name. 

F.  W.  WHITLOCK. 

Among  those  who  found  among  the  Berkshire  hills  a  place  of  rest- 
ful retirement  after  the  cares  and  excitements  of  business,  was  F.  W. 
Whitlock,  of  Great  Barrington.  Mr.  W'hitlock  belonged  to  an  old 
New  York  family,  the  male  members  of  which  have  been  for  genera- 
tions merchants  and  sailing  masters.  His  grandfather  and  great-uncle 
saw  service  in  the  war  of  1812. 

AI.  Ludlow  A\'hitlock  was  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and  was  re- 
markably successful  in  his  undertakings.  He  organized  the  first  line 
of  clipper  ships  which  crossed  the  Atlantic.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
public  affairs,  and  about  1868  was  a  candidate  for  the  legislature.  In 
1857  he  retired  from  business  and  in  1859  came  to  reside  in  Berkshire 
county.  He  married  Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  J.  Chew,  an  officer 
in  the  United  States  Navy,  and  of  the  four  children  born  to  them  only 
one  is  now  living,  F.  W'.,  mentioned  at  length  hereinafter.  The  death 
of  ]\Ir.  Whitlock  occurred  in  1887,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in   1890. 

F.  W.  W'hitlock,  son  of  M.  Ludlow  and  Lucy  (Chew)  \\'hitIock, 
was  born  December  19,  1849,  "''  Havre,  h'rance,  and  received  his  early 
education  under  a  private  tutor,  by  whom  he  was  prepared  to  enter 
Trinity  College,  Hartford.  He  afterward  studied  at  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Listitute  in  Tnjy,  New  ^'ork,  and  in  1872  entered  upon 
the  active  practice  of  his  ])rofession  as  a  ci\il  engineer.  From  tliat 
year  until  1878  he  was  assistant  at  the  IJoston  water-works.  He  as- 
sisted  in   the  C(_)nstruction  of  the  New   \ovV  and   Brooklxn  bridge  and 


882  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  Metropolitan  ele\'ated  railroad.  For  ten  years  he  filled  the  position 
of  assistant  city  engineer  at  Waterbury,  Connecticut.  Mr.  Whitlock 
was  a  member  of  the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers,  the  Con- 
necticut Association  of  Civil  Engineers  and  Surveyors,  in  which  for 
three  ^'ears  he  held  the  oftice  of  secretary,  the  Masonic  order,  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  W'diitlock  died  September 
i8.  1904. 

Mr.  Whitlock  married  Zella  A.,  daughter  of  Rollins  A.  Kempton, 
who  died  October  23,  1896,  and  they  had  one  child,  Pauline  \\\,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Leon  A.  Goodsell. 


THOMAS  ENRIGHT. 

Ever  since  the  birth  of  the  greatest  of  republics  the  tide  of  emigra- 
tion from  the  Emerald  Isle  has  been  toward  its  shores.  And  these  Celtic 
settlers  have  furnished  in  all  communities  throughout  the  United  States 
men  who  have  pro^'ed  ^•aluable  factors  in  their  development.  Their 
stout  hearts,  strong'  and  willing  hands  and  natural  business  acumen  have 
been  everywhere  in  evidence.  Among  the  number  of  these  in  Berkshire 
county  was  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these  memoirs. 

He  was  born  September  9,  1827,  in  the  town  of  Glin.  county  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  where  he  recei^•ed  a  rudimentary  education  and  mastered 
shoe-making,  and  with  this  trade  as  his  sole  capital  embarked  in  1847 
for  America,  temporarily  locating  in  Albany,  New  York. 

The  following  year  (1848)  he  came  to  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  found  immediate  employment  with  the  Weller  Brothers,  John  and 
P'rederick,  who  then  practically  monopolized  the  making  of  boots  and 
shoes  in  Pittsfield.  This  connection  continued  a  period  of  ten  years, 
when,   with  money   saved   from   his  wages   and  an   ample   fund   of  ex- 


c/-iy^yLac</ ,  Q^-^^^i^f^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  383 

perience,  he  entered  into  partnership  assr.ciation  with  Ohver  \\'.  Rob- 
hins  under  tlie  firm  name  of  Robl^ins  &  Company  to  conduct  a  retail 
boot  and  shoe  business,  ^\•ith  custom  department,  on  the  Avest  side  of 
North  street.  Pittsfield.  Upon  the  dissolution  of  this  partnerslhp  in  1866 
Mr.  Enright  became  associated  with  James  A.  Burbank.  and  the  firm  of 
Burbank  &  Enri«ht  establishing  a  similar  business  in  the  immediate 
vicinit}^  of  the  old  store.  The  personal  popularity  of  both  these  gentle- 
men and  the  old-fashioned  honesty  of  their  methods  of  doing  business 
resulted  in  their  house  speedily  becoming  the  leading  one  in  its  line  in 
Berkshire  county,  a  position  which  the  successors  tO'  the  business  have 
been  able  to  maintain.  Owing  to  failing  health  Mr.  Enright  retired 
from  business  in  March,  1889.  the  date  also  of  the  retirement  of  Mr. 
Burbank,  Mr.  James  J.  Enright,  son  of  Mr.  '^Fliomas  Enright,  succeeding 
to  his  father's  interest,  and  Mr.  John  H.  Enright,  nephew^  of  Mr.  En- 
right, ]3urchasing  the  interest  therein  of  Mr.  Burbank.  The  profits  of 
this  successfully  conducted  shoe  business  were  very  judiciously  invested 
by  Thomas  Enright  in  local  real  estate,  much  of  which  was  held  and  im- 
proved b}-  him  in  the  erection  of  substantial  dwelling  houses,  still  the 
property  of  his  estate.  He  died  September,  1889,  leaving"  three  children: 
Ellen  Enright;  Maria,  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Tobin,  of  Schuylerville, 
New  York,  and  James  J.  Enright.  the  son  above  mentioned.  He  was 
born  July  3,  1869,  in  Pittsfield,  attended  its  public  schools  and  was  a 
high  school  student  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease,  when  he  entered 
into  business  as  narrated. 

ANDREW  L.  HUBBELL. 

Among  those  citizens  of  Berkshire  county  who,  though  not  sons 
of  the  soil,  have  by  long  residence  and  public-spirited  services  thor- 
oughly identified  themselves  with  their  place  of  abode,  is  Andrew  L. 
Hubbell,    of  Great   Barrington.      The   family  of  which   he    is   a   repre- 


ab4  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

sentative  was  founded  in  America  by  Richard  Hubbell,  who,  in  1647, 
came  from  P]\mouth,  England,  and  settled  in  New  Haven.  In  1690 
he  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  the  town  of  Fairfield,  Connecticut.  He 
enjoys  the  honorable  distinction  of  having  been  the  founder  of  a  race 
eminent  for  patriotism.  It  is  estimated  that  the  descendants  of  Rich- 
ard Hubbell,  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  outnumbered  those 
of  any  other  individual.  One  of  these  descendants  was  Silleman  Hub- 
bell, grandfather  of  Andrew  L.  Hubbell,  the  present  representative  of 
the  family. 

Luman  Hubbell,  son  of  Silleman  Hubbell,  was  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Coe  &  Hubbell,  merchants  of  Winchester,  Connecticut.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  strength  of  character  and  was  popular  with  all 
classes.  He  held  the  ofiice  of  selectman  and  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Universalist  church.  He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  James  Boyd, 
of  a  very  old  Connecticut  family,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  two 
sons:  Andrew  L.,  mentioned  at  length  hereinafter;  and  James  B., 
a  late  resident  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  These  children  were  early 
dqDrived  of  their  mother.     Air.  Hubbell,  the  father,  is  also  deceased. 

Andrew  L.  Hubbell,  son  of  Luman  and  Jane  (Boyd)  Hubbell, 
was  born  in  1834,  in  Winsted,  Connecticut,  and  attended  common 
schools  and  academies  in  various  places.  He  came  to  Great  Barring- 
ton  as  a  young  man,  and  for  a  short  time  was  employed  by  B.  F.  Dur- 
rant.  He  then  engaged  in  the  clothing  business,  in  which  he  continued 
without  interruption  until  his  retirement  in  1894.  His  marked  success 
as  a  business  man  was  due  to  a  thorough  understanding  of  the  demands 
and  requirements  of  his  calling,  and  to  the  reputation  which  he  estab- 
lished at  the  very  outset  of  his  career  for  perfect  reliability  and  strict 
honesty  in  all  his  dealings.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  National  Bank.     He  always  took  an  active  part  in  town- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  385 

ship  affairs,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the 
comnuniity.  He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  Agricultural  Society, 
and  for  three  years  held  the  office  of  selectman.  He  was  an  old-time 
Republican,  having  been  one  of  that  historic  band  who'  cast  their  votes 
to  place  Lincoln  in  the  presidential  chair.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
affairs  of  the  organization,  and  acted  as  delegate  to  state  Republican 
conventions.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Monument  Chapter,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  president  of  the  Berk- 
shire County  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution. 

Mr.  Hubbell  married,  in  1857,  Martha,  daughter  of  Edward  P. 
W'oodworth.  of  Great  Barrington.  They  had  no  children.  ]\Ir.  Hub- 
bell  died  at  his  home  in  Great  Barrington.  Massachusetts,  February  3, 
1905.  His  brother,  James  B.  Hubbell,  died  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
December  19,  1905. 

WILLIAM    HENRY    FALLON. 

Although  a  comparatively  young  practitioner  in  dental  surgery, 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  narratiA'e  finds  his  time 
quite  completely  occupied  by  a  well  satisfied  clientele.  He  is  a  native 
of  Berkshire  county,  born  May  31,  1877. 

He  entered  Philadelphia  Dental  College  in  1897.  ^"<^1  ^'''^s  gradu- 
ated therefrom  with  the  class  of  1900.  For  a  short  time  thereafter 
he  was  assistant  with  Dr.  M.  W.  Flvnn,  Pittsfield,  then  establishins" 
his  present  offices  in  the  England  Block,  North  street.  Fie  is  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  Dental  Society,  x)f  which  he  is  executive  commit- 
teeman in  1905. 


386  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 


ADOLPH  FEINER. 


Artistic  tailorino'  is  a  recognized  modern  necessity,  and  it  is  the 
source  of  much  openly  expressed  satisfaction  on  the  part  of  a  very  large 
number  of  very  excellent  people  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  finally 
fixed  upon  Pittsfield  as  a  permanent  abiding  place,  for  Mr.  Feiner  has 
abundantly  demonstrated  that  he  has  a  well-defined  and  most  useful 
mission,  and  that  in  the  fore-front  of  the  merchant  tailoring  trade  in 
western  Massachusetts.  He  was  born  December  25.  1862.  in  Vienna, 
Austria,  where  his  father  was  in  governmental  employ  as  one  of  its  staff 
of  military  tailors. 

The  son  received  a  liberal  education,  initially  with  a  view  to  taking 
up  the  study  of  engineering,  and  to  that  end  he  for  two  years  attended  a 
preparator}^  school  for  that  profession.  Becoming  disinclined  to  adopt 
that  vocation  he  took  up  merchant  tailoring  under  his  father.  The  lat- 
ter, desirous  of  equipping  the  former  to  the  best  possible  business  advan- 
tage, sent  Adolph  in  i88t  to  Dresden.  Saxony,  to  enter  what  was  at  that 
time  the  best  cutting  school  in  Europe.  But  the  son  cherished  another 
ambition,  that  of  seeking  his  fortune  in  America,  and  he  did  not  stop  in 
his  westward  journey  until  the  shores  of  the  new  world  had  been  reached. 

For  two  years  he  was  employed  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the 
following  two  years  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  From  t886  to  1895  he  was 
head  cutter  for  the  merchant  tailoring  establishment  of  Strauss  Brothers. 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  in  1896  came  to  Pittsfield  to  purchase  a  half 
interest  in  the  merchant  tailoring  department  of  J-  P.  Newman  &  Sons, 
an  association  which  continued  for  three  years,  when  Mr.  Feiner  pur- 
chased the  Newman  Sons'  interest  and  removed  the  merchant  tailoring 
business  to  the  store  which  he  has  since  continued  to  occupy.   No.  40 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  38T 

North  street.     Mr.  Feiner  has  the  distinction  of  l^eing  the  only  merchant 
in  liis  hne  in  the  county  seat  who  devotes  a  store  to  Imsiness  purposes. 

Mr.  Feiner  is  a  member  of  tlie  Masonic  fraternity  and  Knights  of 
P}-thias.  He  finds  his  pleasantest  pastime  with  his  books,  and  has  one  of 
the  best  selected  lihraries  in  Pittsfield. 


AMOS  SMITH. 

Amos  Smith,  deceased,  for  many  years  one  of  the  extensive  land 
owners  and  prominent  citizens  of  Dalton,  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, was  one  of  the  direct  descendants  of  Amos  Smith,  who  was 
born  in  Ashford,  Connecticut,  November  21,  1758,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Ame  Chaffee  of  Ashford,  on  May  18,  1779,  and  subsequently 
settled  in  the  town  of  Dalton.  Six  children  were  the  result  of  this 
marriage,  viz:  Alvah,  Ahner,  David,  Amos,  Jr.,  Ame,  and  Avis.  On 
March  19,  1801,  Ame  (Chaffee)  Smith,  aged  forty-two  years,  died 
and  May  5,  1802,  Amos  married  Alary  Colton,  of  Cummington,  for  his 
second  wife,  to  whom  were  born  five  children:  Roswell,  Selinda,  Sul- 
livan, Mary,  Cynthia.  Amos  died  Se]itember  19,  18 14.  Mary  (Col- 
ton) Smith  died  Deceml)er  i.  1853,  aged  eighty-three  vears. 

Abner  Smith,  second  son  of  Amos  and  Aiue  (Chaffee)  Smith,  was 
born  in  Ashford,  May  26,  1781,  and  came  to  the  town  of  Dalton  with  his 
])arents  when  a  child  of  three  years.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
this  vicinity  and  here  he  also  spent  his  active  business  career.  On  Au- 
gust 25,  1810,  he  married  Mary  Driscoll,  born  in  Rhode  Island,  Octo- 
ber 17,  1785,  and  the  following  named  children  were  the  issue  of  this 
marriage:  i.  Julia,  born  Februar}-  12,  1812,  was  married  three  times, 
first  to  ,\bner  Putnam,  leaving  three  children;  second  to  a  Mr.  Church, 
leaving  one  daughter  Jennie   (Church)    (iardner,   li\-ing  in  Dalton,  an.d 


388  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

others;  and  third  to  John  Hecox.     2.   Electa,  born  DecemlDer  26,  1813, 
became  the  wife  of   Marble  Foote,  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  leaving 
two  children.  Kate  and  Charles.     3.   David  Chaffee,  born  January    14, 
181 7.  was  married  March  25,    1841,  to  Permelia  Comstock,  of   Stock- 
bridge,  who  was  born  June  3,  1817,  died  October  7,   1894;    David  died 
May   22,    1888,   and   their  children   were.    Ensign   M.,   born   in  Dalton, 
August   19,    1842,  married  Lucy  Branch,  Septeml)er  25.    1864.  has  two 
sons,  Rupert  and  Russell  A.;    Ensign  served  m  war  of  '61  to  '65,  Avas 
wounded  in  left  lung,  for  several  years  was  interested  in  granite  works, 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  later  resided  in  his  father's  home.  North  street,  Dal- 
ton,  where  he   died   October   7,    1904.      David   C,   Jr.,    born   December 
I,    1845,   "^^'^s  twice  married,   tirst  to  Lucy   ^1.    Root,   April    14,    1867; 
second   to   Kate   A.    Fish,    March    14,    1874;     they    have   five    children: 
Alurray    E.,    Rcscoe   J.,    Bessie    B.,    Kittie    B.,    Sarah    P..    still    living. 
Robert    Amos,    born    February    18,    1850-.    married    Lucia    M.    Owen, 
of    Lee;     had    three    daughters:     Blanth    E.,    still    living:     Clara    Belle, 
Clover  Mildred,  resides  in  Dalton.      Permelia  E.,  born   ALay    11,    1852, 
married,    March   8,    1871,    Henry    A.    Hale,    one   child,    Annie    P.,    still 
living,  August  17.   1885.  became  the  wife  of  Clarence  Cady.  of  Wind- 
sor, now  resides  in  Pittsfield.     4.   Abner  Marshall,  born  May  29.   1819, 
who  married  for  his  wives  two  sisters.  Betse}    and   Robie  Evans;  chil- 
dren  by   first    wife:    Grace.    Carrie.    Ethlin:    Grace    (Bowerman)    died; 
Carrie,  Ethlin  unmarried;  by  second  wife:  Marshall,  a  physician:  Kittie. 
Lulu,  all  living  and  married.      Abner  ^^tarshall  studied   medicine  while 
young,   became   a   well    known    physician   of    Pittsfield,    where   he    died 
May   23.    1889.      5.   Eliza,    born    M^y    31,    1822,    became    the    wife    of 
James    Lambdin,    of    Cincinnati,    Ohio,    after    wb(^se    death,    April     25, 
1854.    aged    thirty-eight    years    and    six    mDUths,    she    married    George 
Campbell,   residing  in   :Maumee  City,   Ohio,  wh(im  she  survived,  dying 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  389 

August  lo,  1888,  leaving  no  issue.  6.  Amos,  born  July  2,  1823,  men- 
tioned hereinafter.  7.  James  Driscoll,  born  December  13,  1825,  mar- 
ried Rachel  Gleason,  having  tAvo  children :  Nellie  M.,  and  Marshall, 
now  deceased.  Because  of  his  natural  rh}-mes  upon  local  affairs  he 
was  termed  "  Dalton's  Poet."  He  died  April  22.  1895.  Abner  Smith 
died  August  22,  1864.  aged  eighty-three  years.  Mary  Driscoll.  his 
wife,  died  April  30.    1854,  aged  sixty-eight  years. 

Amos  Smith,  sixth  child  of  .\bner  and  Mary  (Driscoll)  Smith. 
was  born  July  2,  1823.  He  received  a  common  school  education  which 
thoroughh'  qualified  him  for  the  active  duties  of  life.  He  possessed 
the  same  sterling  cjualities  as  characterized  liis  ancestors,  and  he  fol- 
lowed in  their  footsteps  to  some  extent,  that  being  the  cultivation  of 
the  farm  and  the  marketing  of  the  extensive  lumber  under  his  charge. 
He  worked  for  the  Crane  family  of  Dalton.  Massachusetts,  for  a  luun- 
ber  of  years,  in  fact  nearl}-  all  his  life.  He  was  a  just  and  conscientious 
employer,  ne^■er  expecting  a  man  to  perform  more  work  than  he  was 
able  to  do  in  a  da_\'.  He  was  actnely  interested  in.  local  aft'airs.  and 
ser\-ed  his  town  as  selectman  eight  }ears.  besides  filling  minor  offices 
and  serving  on  committees,  and  in  the  performance  of  all  tliese  varied 
duties  he  gave  the  utmost  satisfaction  to  his  sr.periors  and  fellow  citi- 
zens. He  was  upriglit  and  honest  in  all  relations,  both  in  public  and 
pri\'ate  life,  and  thereby  won  and  retained  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  all  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact.  Alay  20,  185  i,  Mr.  Smith 
married  Julia  1^'lint,  of  Dalton,  Massachusetts,  whose  parents  were 
direct  descendants  from  England.  She  was  born  l*>bruarv  16.  1822. 
died  October  14,  1889.  Their  children  are:  i.  Edith.  Ixirn  August 
7.  1859.  who  became  the  wife  of  Gideon  Iv.  Ferr\'.  of  Becket,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  their  children  are:  Amos  Smith.  Walter  A.,  and  Julia 
C.   Ferrv;  tbev  make  their   home  on   the  site  of  the  old   Amos   Smith 


39U  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

house  on  North  street,  Dalton.  2.  Belle  Lambdin,  born  May  13,  1863; 
she  is  unmarried  and  is  one  of  the  enterprising  women  of  the  state.  Her 
father  died  in  1893,  and  left  a  large  number  of  acres  of  valuable  timber 
land.  She  purchased  her  sister's  share  and  proceeded  to  conduct  a 
sawmill,  the  cutting  and  sawing  of  the  timber  being  performed  under 
her  own  supervision.  The  lumber  being  sold  for  building  purposes  in 
Dalton  and  Pittsfield.     She  has  been  very  successful  in  her  undertaking. 

MORTIMER  T.  CAVANAUGH,  M.  D. 

One  of  the  well-known  physicians  of  Berkshire  county  is  Dr.  Mor- 
timer T.  Cavanaugh  of  Great  Barrington.  Dr.  Cavanaugh  is  of  Irish 
parentage.  He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  J.  Cavanaugh,  who  was  a  native 
of  county  Clare,  Ireland,  and  in  1865  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  New  York.  He  subseciuently  moved  to  Hartford,  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  followed  his  trade,  which  was  that  of  a  blacksmith.  In 
1867  he  established  himself  in  the  general  blacksmithing  and  wagon- 
making  business  at  North  Adams,  Massachusetts.  He  was  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  proprietor  of  the  American  House  at  North  Adams  and  con- 
ducted the  establishment  successfully  until  his  retirement  in  1893.  He 
married  Margaret  Kehoe,  and  of  the  eight  children  born  to  them  six 
are  now  living,  among  them  being  Mortimer  T.,  mentioned  at  length 
hereinafter.  Mrs.  Cavanaugh,  the  mother  of  these  children,  died  April 
20,  1903,  sincerely  mourned  by  her  family  and  friends.  Mr.  Cavanaugh, 
the  father,  is  still  living,  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him  as  a  man  whose 
success  is  the  result  not  only  of  ability  but  also  of  strict  rectitude. 

Mortimer  T.  Cavanaugh,  son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Margaret  (Kehoe) 
Cavanaugh,  was  born  July  31,  1872,  in  North  Adams,  Massachusetts, 
and  received  his  education  at  the  Drury  Academy.     He  was  prepared 


>5^^£;:i^  c/  & 


/<«^^2^, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  391 

for  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at  Baltimore  Medical  College, 
which  he  entered  in  1895  and  from  which  he  received  in  1898  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  After  one  year's  hospital  service  in  Baltimore 
(Maryland)  General  Hospital,  and  as  demonstrator  of  pathology^  and 
bacteriology  during  sessions  of  1898-99  at  the  Baltimore  Medical  Col- 
lege, he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  North  Adams  in 
1899,  and  in  May,  1901,  established  his  present  office  in  Great  Barring- 
ton,  where  he  has  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  practice  of  a  gen- 
eral character.  He  is  a  member  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  health, 
also  a  member  of  the  Great  Barrington  school  board. 

REV.  DANIEL  F.  CRONIN. 

As  the  senior  Roman  Catholic  pastor  in  Berkshire  county,  and  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  diocesan  examiners,  the  Rev.  Father  Cronin,  rector 
of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  Flinsdale,  stands  pre-eminent  among  the  clergy 
of  that  denomination  in  western  Massachusetts,  and  his  long  period  of 
strenuous  labor,  which  has  now  passed  the  quarter-centuiy  mark,  forms 
no  small  part  of  the  history  and  development  of  the  Catholic  faith  in 
that  locality. 

Daniel  T.  Cronin  was  born  in  Ireland.  He  pursued  the  primary 
branches  of  his  education  in  the  Worcester  public  schools,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  Holy  Cross  College,  that  city,  with  the  class  of  1869.  His 
theological  studies  were  directed  by  the  Sulpician  fathers  in  Montreal, 
Canada,  and  his  ordination  to  the  priesthood  took  place  in  the  winter  of 
1872.  His  first  assignment  was  as  curate  at  Brookfield,  this  state,  where 
he  remained  for  four  years,  and  in  1876  he  was  appointed  to  the  Hins- 
dale pastorate,  which  he  has  retained  continuously  to  the  present  time. 

St.   Patrick's  Church  was  erected  in    1852   through  the  efforts  of 


392  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  Rev.  Father  Cuddih.y,  of  Pittsfielcl  who  had  for  some  time  prior  to 
that  date  attended  to  tlie  spiritual  needs  of  the  faithful  in  that  locality. 
As  early  as  1832  Father  Fitton,  one  of  the  first  Catholic  priests  to 
visit  Westoii,  Massachusetts,  celehrated  mass  as  far  west  as  Great  Bar- 
rington,  and  in  other  villages  of  Berkshire  county,  but  makes  no  men- 
tion of  having  visited  Hinsdale.  As  pre\'iously  stated  Father  Cuddihy 
and  other  clergymen  from  Pittsfield  attended  the  Catholic  people  there 
until  their  numbers  were  stich  as  to  warrant  the  estal)lishment  of  a 
separate  parish,  and  in  1868  the  Rev.  Father  Romano  became  the  first 
resident  pastor.  The  new  parish  of  St.  Patrick  included  Dalton,  Becket, 
Middlefield,  Washington,  Windsor  and  Peru.  Father  Romano  was 
succeeded  in  May,  1872,  by  the  Rev.  P.  V.Moyce,  an  able  instructor, 
ripe  scholar  and  eloquent  preacher,  who  died  in  the  following  July. 
Rev.  P.  J.  Sheehan,  the  curate  at  Pittsfield,  was  next  assigned  to  the 
Hinsdale  pastorate,  which  he  retained  until  called  to  his  reward  the 
ensuing  year,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Patrick  McManus  in  April, 
1873.  The  latter  died  in  December,  1874,  and  the  parish  was  in  charge 
of  Rev.  E.  B.  McKeeney,  as  "  locum  tenens  "  for  a  short  time,  or  until 
the  arrival,  in  the  following  January,  of  Rev.  John  B.  Daley,  who  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  T.  Cronin,  in  July,  1876. 

Young,  energetic  and  vigilant.  Father  Cronin  found  ample  oppor- 
tunitv  to  display  his  power  of  endurance  as  well  as  his  indefatigable 
zeal,  for  the  Hinsdale  parish,  together  with  its  dependent  missions,  is  far 
from  being  a  sinecure,  and  the  spirit  of  energy  and  optimism  which  char- 
acterized his  labors  in  this  locality  have  proved  of  inestimable  value  to 
the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  community.  Next  in  importance 
to  the  parish  seat  is  the  village  of  Dalton,  famous  for  its  industries  and 
the  moral  and  intellectual  superiority  of  its  inhabitants.  Here  the 
Catholics  and  Protestants  enjoy  the  blessings     of  neighborl}-  unity,  fac- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  393 

tional  discord  in  relii^ioiis  matters  1)cing  entirely  unknown,  and  here  the 
fruitage  oi"  Father  Cronin's  intiiience  and  IrJjor  is  visihl\-  apparent  in 
the  handsome  cliurch  at  St.  Agnes,  tlie  somewhiat  unusual  circumstances 
relative  to  the  erection  of  which  \vili  he  shi^rtlv  referred  to. 

As  a  (,:ith(ilic  center  of  poinilaticn.  Dalton  is  ah-out  as  old  as  Hins- 
dale. Mass  was  celeliratcd  liere  as  earl\-  as  1842.  Ijy  the  Rev.  Father 
Brad)-,  who  from  that  time  until  his  death  made  frequent  visits  to  the 
town.  Suhsequentl}-  the  Catholic  residents  received  the  attention  of 
Fathers  Cuddihy  and  Pureed,  of  St.  Joseph's  Church,  Pittsfield,  and  it 
was  one  of  the  dependent  missions  of  the  Pittsfield  parish  from  1861  to 
1873.  In  the  latter  year  it  was  attached  to  St.  Patrick's  parish,  Hins- 
dale, and  when  Father  Cronin  l)ecame  conxersant  with  the  situatiou  he 
comprehended  the  necessity  for  a  chiu'ch  edifice  which  would  he  more 
in  keei)ing  \\ith  the  ad\-anced  condition  of  the  Catholic  people  of  Dal- 
ton, and  he  :icted  accordingly.  His  efforts  in  that  direction  resulted  in 
th.e  erection  of  St.  Agnes'  Church,  in  1883,  at  a  cost  of  seventeen  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  he  not  (»nly  recei\ed  the  sym[)athy  and  financial  sup- 
port of  his  own  dock.  I;ut  the  Protestant  residents  as  well  entered 
heartily  into  the  work  in  order  to  demcMistrate  in  a  sul)stantial  manner 
their  interest  in  the  religious  work  of  their  Catholic  fellow-townsmen, 
and  also  their  sincere  ajipreciation  of  heather  Cronin's  endeavors  in  he- 
half  of  the  high  moral  standing  of  the  community.  Among  the  latter 
were  !^Iessrs.  Crane,  Weston.  Carson  and  Brown.  Mr.  Brown  donated 
the  land,  the  well-known  Crane  family,  of  which  ex-Ciovernor  and  now 
Senator  W.  Murra}'  Crane  is  a  distinguished  representatix'e.  contrihuted 
the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  to  the  huilding  fund,  and  the  Hon. 
Byron  Weston  presented  a  fine  church  1)ell.  "J'he  contrihutions  as  a 
whole  were  so  liljeral  as  to  enahle  I'ather  Cronin  to  present  the  Bishop 
with  a  new  cluu'ch  which  on  the  (la\-  of  its  dedication  was  hut  sliyhtlv 


394  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

encumbered  with  debt.  St.  Agnes'  Church,  which  is  considered  the 
handsomest  rehgious  edifice  in  Berkshire  county,  is  of  the  Gothic  style 
of  architecture,  has  a  seating  capacity  of  five  hundred,  and  is  located 
upon  the  handsomest  street  in  the  town. 

Father  Cronin  is  gentle  in  manner,  intellectual  in  his  tastes,  and 
exceedingly  domestic  in  his  habits,  taking  special  delight  in  his  home  and 
people.  His  moral  and  religious  influence  in  both  Hinsdale  and  Dalton 
is  far-reaching,  and  his  interest  in  educational  matters  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  much  public  benefit.  The  curates  who  have  labored  at  St. 
Agnes'  include  Revs.  George  M.  Fitzgerald,  1883-85;  Thomas  J.  Fitz- 
gernkl,  1885-87;  John  T.  Nelligan,  1888-90;  William  C.  McCaughan, 
1891-94;  James  M.  Pendergrast.  1894-98;  and  James  A.  O'Malley, 
1898  to  the  present  time. 

Father  O'Malley  is  a  native  of  Clinton,  Massachusetts,  which  is 
becoming  quite  famous  as  the  birthplace  of  Catholic  clergymen.  He  is 
a  graduate  of  Holy  Cross  College,  Worcester,  this  state,  and  studied 
theology  at  the  Brighton  Seminary,  where  his  ordination  to  the  priest- 
hood took  place.  His  first  duty  was  as  curate  at  St.  John's  Church, 
Worcester,  and  he  was  subsequently  ''  locum  tenens  ''  at  Cordavillc  a'ld 
Florence,  from  whence  he  was  assigned  to  Hinsdale  and  Dalton.  He  is 
a  zealous,  scholarly  priest,  and  with  his  superior  shares  the  ^ove  and  con- 
fidence of  both  parishes. 

LOUIS  BURNS. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  merchants  of  W^estern  Massachu- 
setts is  ]Mr.  Louis  Burns,  proprietor  of  the  extensive  house-furnishing 
goods  establishment  in  the  Burns  block  on  North  street,  Pittsfield.  He 
was  born  in  Thompsonville,  Connecticut,  January  17,  i860,  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Elizabeth  (Stevens)  Burns. 


tytd 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  395 

\\^illiani  Burns  \\as  a  native  of  the  county  Monaghan,  north  of  Ire- 
land, where  he  was  born  in  1809  and  whence  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  locating-  in  New  York  city  in  1830.  After  several  years"  resi- 
dence in  the  latter  city  he  was  induced  by  Orin  Thompson,  the  founder 
of  the  Thompson  Carpet  Company,  to  locate  in  Thompson\'ille,  wdiere 
he  was  installed  as  superintendent  of  a  department  of  that  gigantic  in- 
dustry, then  and  still  the  largest  manufacturing  establishment  of  its  kind 
in  the  world.  This  connection  continued  for  a  period  approximating 
fifteen  years,  when  Mr.  Burns  retired  therefrom  and  invested  his  con- 
siderable savings  in  establishing  the  Burns-McLean  Grocery  Company 
at  Thompsonville.  After  years  of  successful  business  he  sold  out  his  in- 
terest to  his  partner  and  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which  he  continued  to 
live  in  retirement  throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

William  Burns  was  a  prominent  type  of  that  large  and  splendid 
body  of  men  from  the  north  of  Ireland  whose  brain  and  brawn,  industry 
and  integrity  have  wrought  so  beneficently  to  the  commercial  develop- 
ment of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Burns  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church  of  Thompsonville,  and  took  upon  himself  a 
large  share  of  the  expense  incident  to  the  erection  of  the  edifice  in  which 
that  congregation  worshiped.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  James  Stev- 
ens, who  came  from  Scotland  early  in  the  nineteenth  century  and  located 
at  Thompsonville,  w'here  he  was  stove  dealer,  tinsmith  and  coal  mer- 
chant. 

Louis  Burns  received  his  general  education  in  the  public  and  hig'h 
schools  of  Thompsonville  and  began  his  preparation  for  business  life  by 
taking  the  course  at  Hannum  Business  College,  Hartford,  Connecticut. 
Immediately  thereafter  he  entered  the  employ  of  William  Calderw^ood, 
who  conducted  a  general  store,  at  Thompsonville;  following  this  he 
clerked  for  A.  Sloan  &  Sons  at  the  same  place. 


390  BERKSHIRE  COl'NTY 

In  1880  he  went  to  Springfield  to  take  charge  of  the  draperies  de- 
partment of  Forbes  &  Wallace.  In  1882  he  resigned  the  last  mentioned 
position  to  purchase  in  conjunction  with  C.  W.  Wright  the  Sloan  busi- 
ness heretofore  mentioned.  This  partnership  association  was  success- 
fully continued  for  nearly  five  years,  when  Mr.  Burns'  impaired  health 
led  to  his  retirement  from  the  firm  and  temporar}'  withdrawal  from  busi- 
ness. In  1888  he  reassociated  himself  with  Mr.  Wright,  a  house  fur- 
nishing goods  l)usiness  being  established  by  them  on  Fenn  street,  Pitts- 
field,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wright  &  Burns.  In  T892  Mr.  Bums  sold 
his  interest  in  this  store  to  Mr.  Wright  for  the  purpose  of  embarking 
in  business  in  Troy,  New  York.  This  project  was  abandoned,  however, 
and  a  promising  opportunity  for  investment  presenting  itself  through  the 
purchase  of  the  Stockl)ridge  House  (now  Red  Lion  Inn)  livery,  Mr. 
Burns  a\-ailed  himself  thereof,  holding-  and  successfullv  conducting  the 
same  until  its  achantageous  sale  a  vear  later.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership association  with  \\^.  T.  Petherbridge  and  re-entered  the  house 
furnishing  goods  business  at  Pittsfield  in  the  Upper  Burbank  block, 
where  the  business  was  conducted  until  1898,  when  a  removal  was  made 
to  the  present  location  in  the  New  Burns  block.  North  street.  Mr.  Burns 
purchased  his  partner's  interest  therein  in  1899  and  is  now  its  sole  pro- 
prietor, the  business  conducted  by  him  being  the  largest  of  its  kind  in 
western  Massachusetts. 

He  married,  in  October,  1883.  Elizabeth  Ingraham  Allen,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  A.  Allen,  manufacturer  of  Enfield.  Connecticut. 

Properly  patriotic  in  his  devotion  to  the  land  of  his  nati\'ity.  Mr. 
Burns  cherishes  with  equal  enthusiasm  a  love  for  Bonnie  Scotland, 
A\hence  his  ancestors  found  their  way  to  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  his 
eloquent  addresses  have  been  the  features  of  numerous  anni\-ersary  oc- 
casions in  Berkshire  countv  in  honor  of  the  memorv  of  Scotland's  most 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  397 

distinguished  and  l)est-loved  poet— Bobby  Burns.  He  frequently  quotes 
that  lieautiful  tri1)ute  to  the  immortal  l)ard  from  the  inspired  pen  of  the 
late  Robert  G.  in.oersoll  upon  the  occasion  of  the  latter's  visit  to  the 
humble  cot,  August  19,  1878: 

THE   BIRTHPLACE   OF   BURNS. 

Though  Scotland  boasts  a  thousand  names 

Of  patriot,  king  and  peer, 
The  noblest,  grandest  of  them  all 

Was  loved  and  cradled  here. 
Here  lived  the  gentle  peasant  iirince. 

The  loving  cotter  king, 
Compared  with  whom  the  greatest  lord 

Is  but  a  titled  thing. 

Tis  but  a  cot  roofed  in  with  straw, 

A  hovel  made  of  clay. 
One  door  shuts  out  the  snow  and  storm. 

One  window  greets  the  da>- ; 
And  yet  1  stand  within  this  room 

And  hold  all  thrones  in  scorn. 
For  here  beneath  this  lowly  thatch 

Love's  sweetest  bard  was  born. 

Within  this  hallowed  hut  1  feel 

Like  one  who  clasps  a  shrine. 
When  the  glad  lips  at  last  have  touched 

The  something  deemed   divine; 
And  here  the  world  through  all  the  years, 

As  long  as  day  returns. 
The  tribute  of  it's  love  and  tears 

Will  pav  to  Robert  Burns. 


THADDEUS  Z.  AYERS. 

The  subject  of  this  narrative,  now  living  in  retirement  at  his  home 
in  Pittsfiekl  passed  his  b.usiness  life  in  the  funnturc  trade,  for  some 
vears  as  traveling  representative  for  an  eastern  house,  subsequently  as 
ienior  member  of  the  hrms  of  .\yers  &  Jones  and  Ayers  &  Renne,  in 


39S  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

the  conduct  of  a  Fenn  street  (Pittsfield)  store  and  latterly  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  furniture  establishment  of  James  Burns  and  his  suc- 
cessors, H.  B.  Wellington,  Burns  (Louis)  &  Petherbridge,  and  Louis 
Burns.  Lnpaired  health  led  to  his  retirement  in  1905.  Mr.  Avers  was 
generally  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  informed  and  most  capable  men 
in  his  line  of  trade  in  western  Massachusetts. 

By  his  marriage  to  Harriet  Harder  he  has  three  surviving  children : 
Herbert  and  Robert  Ayers,  in  the  employ  of  the  Pittsfield  office  of  the 
American  Express  Company ;  and  T.  Z.  Ayers,  Jr.,  with  the  Stanley 
Electric  Manufacturing  Company,  Morningside. 

FREDERICK   S.    AYMAR. 

Prominent  among-  the  progressive  men  of  Berkshire  county  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  forms  the  caption  for  these  memoirs.  He  was 
born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  March  24,  1839.  His  parents  were 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Seymour)  Aymar,  the  former  of  French,  the  latter 
of  English  ancestry.  Samuel  Aymar  was  born  in  New  York,  and  for 
many  years  carried  on  a  successful  ship-chandlery  business.  His  wife, 
a  native  of  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  was  a  descendant  of  Captain  Thomas 
Seymour,  who  won  his  title  by  valiant  service  as  a  soldier  of  the  patriot 
army  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Samuel  Aymar  removed  his  family 
from  the  neighborhood  of  the  Battery,  in  New  York  city,  where  his 
son  Frederick  was  born,  to  Brooklyn,  when  the  latter  was  four  years 
of  age,  and  in  private  schools  of  that  city  the  lad  received  his  general 
education. 

His  business  career  began  when  he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age 
as  a  clerk  in  a  ship-chandler's  establishment,  and  two  years  later  be 
entered  his  father's  employ  in  a  similar  capacity.     In  1870  he  was  ad- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  399 

niitted  to  partnership  in  the  concern  which  was  known  as  Wilham 
Aymar  &  Company.  He  retired  from  bnsiness  in  1879.  It  was  in 
1878  that  he  took  np  his  residence  in  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  has  ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  all  measures  that  have  con- 
tributed in  a  substantial  way  to  the  (le\-elopment  of  the  home  of  his 
adoption. 

Obtaining  early  recognition  as  a  most  valuable  member  of  society, 
his  services  have  been  almost  constantly  in  requisition  as  an  official, 
and  he  has  discharged  in  fullest  measure  e\ery  duty  that  has  devolved 
upon  him.  For  a  long  term  of  }ears  he  was  a  member  and  chairman  of 
the  board  of  selectmen;  served  as  overseer  of  the  poor;  chairman  of  the 
board  of  health ;  chief  engineer  of  the  fire  department,  for  the  organ- 
ization of  which  he  was  largely  responsible,  and  member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Stockbridge  Library  Association.  Mr.  Aymar 
was  the  especially  active  executive  committeeman  in  the  securing  of 
plans  for  and  erection  of  the  recently  completed  town  hall  of  Stock- 
bridge.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  religiously  an  Episcopalian, 
and  has  served  since  1884  continuously  as  clerk  and  treasurer  of  St. 
Paul's  church.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Montauk  lodge,  Brooklyn, 
and  is  an  honorary  member  of  Occidental  Lodge  of  Stockbridge. 

He  married  Mary  Seymour,  of  Stockbridge.  Four  children  were 
born  to  JNIr.  and  Mrs.  Aymar,  of  whom  one,  h'rederick  S.  Avmar,  Jr., 
survives. 

DR.   GEORGE  W.  BRADLEY. 

A  graduate  of  a  regular  college  of  o]itical  science,  wherein  is  taught 
the  proper  adjustment  of  glasses  as  an  aid  to  obstructed  vision,  is  a 
recognized  necessitx-  in  every  ])rogressive  community,  and  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  is  now  devoting  his  energies  to  the  useful  calling  of 


4U0  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

an  optical  specialist  in  North  Adams,  is  a  regularly  equipped  exponent 
of  that  science. 

Dr.  Georg'e  W.  Bradley,  eyesight  specialist,  was  born  in  Meriden, 
Connecticut,  July  19,  18G6.  He  is  a  son  of  Leonard  H.  and  Martha  M. 
(Talmage)  Bradley,  the  former  of  whom  w^as  born  m  Branford,  Con- 
necticut, in  February,  1839,  and  his  wife's  birth  took  place  at  Cheshire, 
that  state,  in  January  of  the  same  year.  Both  are  now  residing  in  Meri- 
den, and  Leonard  H.  Bradley  is  a  well  known  carriage  manufacturer 
of  that  town.  They  have  three  sons  living,  namely  :  Oscar  L.,  George 
W.  and  Arthur  C.  Bradley. 

After  concluding  his  attendance  at  the  puijlic  schools  of  his  native 
town  George  W.  Bradley  became  connected  with  the  silverware  business, 
which  he  followed  for  a  period  of  three  and  one-half  years,  and  the  en- 
suing three  years  he  devoted  exclusively  to  the  interests  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  Becoming  convinced  that  the  profession 
of  an  optician  offered  extraordinary  inducements  to  a  young  man  de- 
sirous of  a  scientific  as  well  as  a  useful  calling,  he  decided  to  thoroughly 
prepare  himself  for  the  work.  Entering  the  Philadelphia  Optical  Col- 
lege he  pursued  the  regular  course  in  optics  as  relating  to  the  principles 
of  human  eyesight  and  the  proper  manner  of  protecting'  and  increasing 
it  by  artificial  means,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  1890.  Re- 
turning to  Meriden  he  estalilished  himself  in  practice.  In  1896  he  re- 
moved to  North  Adams,  and  has  ever  since  practiced  his  specialty  suc- 
cessfully in  that  city.  Dr.  Bradley  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
in  which  he  has  taken  the  Royal  Arch  degree.  He  also  affiliates  with 
the  Royal  Arcanum,  Foresters  of  America,  New  England  Order  of  Pro- 
tection and  the  Workmen's  Benefit  Association.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  attends  the  Baptist  chiu'ch.  At  Meriden,  Connecticut, 
July  22,  1891,  Dr.  Bradley  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alice  R. 
Peck,  daughter  of  Julius  C.  and  Grace  L.  Peck.  Of  this  union  there  is 
one  son,  Harold  T.  Bradley,  born  June  6,  1892. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  401 

WESTON  FAMILY. 

The  \\>ston  family,  one  of  the  best  known  in  Berkshire  county,  has 
had  four  generations  of  its  representatives  located  in  Dalton,  and  in  each 
of  these  generations  one  or  more  of  its  members  has  left  the  impress  of 
an  individuality  standing  for  progress. 

Rev.  Isaac  Weston,  born  in  1773.  received  a  liberal  education  and 
became  a  Unitarian  minister.  By  appointment  of  President  Madison  he 
filled  the  office  of  collector  of  the  port  of  New  Bedford,  where  he  was 
aggressively  active  and  successful  in  his  measures  for  the  protection  of 
that  coast  against  British  cruisers.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Eliah 
Dean,  of  Taunton,  who  represented  the  Bristol  district  in  Congress.  Rev. 
Weston  came  in  1814  to  Dalton,  Massachusetts,  where  a  brother-in-law. 
Colonel  Thomas  Green,  had  previously  located.  With  the  latter  gentle- 
man he  immediately  entered  into  business  relations  in  the  operation  of 
a  smelting  furnace  and  foundry.  The  ore  used  in  this  pioneer  plant  was 
abundantly  found  in  the  brown  hematite  boulders  of  that  vicinage,  and 
its  products  were  potash  kettles,  plowshares  and  stoves.  He  also  in  the 
same  year  built  Dalton's  first  woolen  mill.  He  died  in  1821,  leaving  five 
children — Grenville,  Franklin,  Sarah,  Isaiah  and  Josiah.  Of  these,  Gren- 
ville  (born  in  1797),  better  known  as  "Colonel"  Weston  through  his 
efficient  military  service,  was  a  man  of  strong  and  winning  personality, 
endowed,  moreover,  with  excellent  business  capacity,  which  was  utilized 
to  the  advantage  of  his  native  county  by  his  capable  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  numerous  offices  of  trust,  and  latterly  the  county  commission- 
ship,  wherein  his  services  were  especially  ^'aluable.  He  had  a  large  prop- 
erty, most  of  which  had  to  be  sacrified  to  meet  obligations  incurred  by 
him  through  the  business  failure  of  a  friend  for  whom  he  had  endorsed 
heavily.     He  died  in  1866,  leaving  three  children,  Grenville,  Sarah  and 


402  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Harriet,  all  of  whom  removed  to  western  states.  Franklin,  second  in 
order  of  birth  of  Rev.  ^^^eston's  children,  eno:aged  at  Dalton  in  woolen 
mannfacture.  He  took  an  especial  interest  in  Free  Masonrv.  He  died 
in  1867.  Josiah  Weston,  third  son  of  Rev.  Isaiah  Weston,  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Berkshire  INIedical  College,  and  was  for  a  few  years  immediatelv 
following  established  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Natchez,  Mis- 
sissippi. Returning  to  Dalton  he  married  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Zenas 
Crane.  In  1857  he  was  the  Democratc  nominee  for  congress,  and  al- 
though in  enfeebled  health  he  made  a  vigorous  and  brilliant  canvass  of 
his  district.  His  opponents  were  the  Re^^  Mark  Trafford  of  Westfield, 
the  Know-nothing  candidate,  and  Henry  L.  Dawes,  of  Pittsfield,  who  had 
been  put  in  nomination  by  the  new  Republican  party.  The  obnoxious 
Kansas-Nebraska  bill  had  worked  ruin  to  the  Democratic  party  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Dr.  Weston,  although  personally  very  popular,  was  defeated 
by  his  Republican  competitor.  A  few  months  later  Dr.  Weston  died  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  aged  forty-seven  years. 

Isaiah  Weston,  fourth  of  the  sons  of  Rev.  Weston,  had  a  partner- 
ship association  with  his  brother  Franklin  in  the  woolen  mill  heretofore 
referred  to,  and  the  store  operated  in  connection  therewith.  He  was  a 
man  of  means,  and  indulged  to  an  extent  a  taste  for  agriculture.  He 
removed  in  1835  *o  Fremont,  Illinois,  where  he  died  a  few  years  later. 
He  married,  at  Dakon,  Caroline  Curtis,  by  whom  he  had  four  children — 
Isaiah,  who  located  in  Colorado,  two  who  are  deceased,  and 

Byron  Weston,  born  in  Dalton  in  1832,  three  years  before  the  re- 
moval of  his  father  to  Illinois.  The  inception  of  his  career  as  a  business 
man  put  him  in  touch  with  that  branch  of  manufacture  with  which  he 
was  destined  to  be  identified  throughout  a  useful  and  signally  successful 
business  life.  He  was  a  bookkeeper  at  Saugerties,  New  York,  in  a  mill, 
the  specialties  of  which  were  the  making  of  news  and  book  paper,  and 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  403 

which  was  managed  hy  one  of  his  uncles.     Interested  from  the  outset  in 
paper  making,  he  determined  to  master  its  details,  and  supplemented  his 
initial  training  along  that  line  hy  terms  of  employment  at  Lindlev  Murray 
Crane's  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  fine  writing  papers,  at  Ballston,  New 
York,  and  in  some  of  the  leading  mills  of  Hartford.  Connecticut,  and  at 
Lee,  Massachusetts.     Shortly  after  the  lireaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion Mr.  Weston  proceeded  to  raise  a  company  for  the  Forty-ninth 
Massachusetts  Regiment,  of  which  company  he  was  chosen  captain.     This 
regiment,  which  was  enlisted  for  nine  months,  served  for  one  rear  in  the 
Department  of  the  Gulf,  sharing  its  full  measure  of  the  arduous  cam- 
paigns of  1862-63,  including  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson.     Returning  to 
Dalton,  and  restored  after  a  brief  period  of  rest  from  the  debilitation  in- 
cident to  the  hardships  of  army  life,  he  set  to  work  with  characteristic 
energy  to  establish  himself  in  the  paper  manufacturing  business,  and  pur- 
chased the  Messrs.  Henry  and  A.  S.  Chamberlain  plant,  located  in  the 
center  of  the  town,   which  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  old  "  Defiance  " 
mill  built  by  David  Carson  in  1824.     Captain  Weston  enlarged  and  prac- 
tically rebuilt  this  structure,  and  equipped  it  with  the  latest  and  best  ma- 
chinery for  its  proposed  product — linen  record    and  ledger  papers.     He 
also  bought  from  General  William  F.  Bartlett  and  Colonel  Walter  Cut- 
ting the  mill  site  about  six  hundred  feet  distant  from  Defiance  mill,  where, 
in  1855,  Captain  A.  S.  Chamberlain  had  built  and  sul)se(juentl_\-  ()|)erated 
a  paper  making  plant.     This  null,  which  was  Ijurned  in  1875,  was  not 
rebuilt.     Here  Captain  Weston  erected  the  extensive  mill  known  as  "  the 
Centennial."     The  operation  of  these  mills  has  been  among  the  conspicu- 
ously successful  achievements  in  the  great  manufacturing  interests  of 
western  Massachusetts,  because  of  both  the  quantit}-  and  quality  of  the 
output.     Placed  in  competition  with  similar  products  of  the  greatest  mills 
of  the  w(jrld,  the  ledger  papers  of  the  mills  have  received  gold  medals 


404  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

and  other  testimonials  of  super-excellence  wherever  exhibited,  notably  at 
Philadelphia,  in  1876;  Paris,  1878;  Australia,  1882;  at  similar  exposi- 
tions in  New  York,  Boston,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  Atlanta;  World's  Fair, 
Chicago,  in  1893  ;  and  the  Pan-American  Exposition,  Buffalo,  1902.  Mr. 
Weston  was  the  author  of  a  comprehensive  and  most  instructive  and  en- 
tertaining history  of  paper  making  read  by  him  at  the  request  of  the 
Berkshire  Historical  and  Scientific  Society  at  a  meeting  of  that  body  in 
1881,  and  which  he  subsequently  used  in  part  in  occasional  lectures. 
Among  the  noteworthy  features  incident  to  the  growth  of  this  industry 
at  Dalton,  has  been  the  sinking  of  great  artesian  wells  in  obtaining  the 
necessary  supply  of  absolutely  pure  water.  In  1892  the  present  company 
was  formed,  being  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Byron  Weston 
Company,  of  which  Governor  Weston  was  president  until  his  decease, 
November  8,  1898.  In  addition  to  the  multiple  benefits  which  have  been 
the  direct  outcome  to  this  community  of  these  enterprises,  such  as  the 
laying  out  of  streets  and  the  building-  of  many  homes  for  employes.  Gov- 
ernor Weston  has  done  much  to  contribute  to  the  healthy  and  rapid  de\-el- 
opment  of  the  town,  notably  in  the  erection  of  his  own  spacious  home, 
with  its  beautiful  grounds,  and  the  substantial  business  block,  with  public 
hall,  built  in  1882.  His  business  counsel  was  highly  esteemed  and  his 
association  secured  in  the  directorates  of  numerous  important  institutions, 
and  his  service  to  the  commonwealth  embraced  a  term  in  the  state  as- 
sembly of  1874  as  senator  from  northern  Berkshire,  and  his  efficient  and 
dignified  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  office  of  lieutenant-governor  of 
the  state,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1879,  1880,  and  188 1,  with  Hon. 
John  D.  Long  as  the  candidate  for  first  gubernatorial  honors. 

Governor  Weston  was  as  happy  in  his  marital  relations  as  he  was 
successful  as  a  business  man.  The  lady  of  his  choice  was  Miss  Julia 
Mitchell,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1865.     To  them  were  born  seven 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  405 

children:  Franklin;  Ellen,  wife  of  Hale  Holden,  of  Kansas  Citv,  Alis- 
souri;  Louisa  B..  Julia  Caroline,  Philip,  Dorothy  D.,  and  Donald  M. 
Weston.  Mrs.  Weston  was  beloved  and  lionored  by  all,  and  her  demise 
on  September  4,  1902,  was  a  profound  grief  in  the  community  which  she 
had  for  so  many  years  graced  with  her  presence  and  beneficence.  Of  her 
children  the  first  born  was 

Franklin  Weston.  Although  the  decease  of  Governor  Weston  was 
a  recognized  great  loss  to  Berkshire  county,  and  was  naturally  felt  with 
especial  force  in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  where  his  life  work  was  so 
splendidly  contriljutory  to  its  well  being  and  development,  he  most  for- 
tunately left,  as  a  heritage  to  that  community,  a  son  trained  under  his 
own  wise  counsel  to  assume  the  burden  of  large  responsibility  which  he 
laid  down. 

Franklin  Weston  was  born  August  13,  1866.  He  attended  Grevlock 
Institute,  Phillips  Academy  and  was  graduated  from  Andover  with  the 
class  of  1887.  \\'ith  this  substantial  general  education  as  a  foundation, 
he  immediately  entered  his  father's  mill,  there  to  obtain  that  practical 
knowledge  of  paper  making  in  all  its  branches  that  equipped  him  for  his 
subsequent  business  career.  Upon  the  incorporation  in  1892  of  the  Bynjn 
Weston  Company,  of  which  his  father  was  president,  the  son  became 
treasurer,  and  in  1899,  the  year  following  Governor  Weston's  decease, 
w^as  elected  to  its  presidency.  The  continued  prosperity  of  this  great 
industry  is  a  sufficient  attestation  of  the  business  capacity  and  is  as  well 
a  certain  indication  of  the  business  integrity  of  its  efficient  representatives. 
The  recognized  equipment  of  Mr.  Franklin  Weston  for  valuable  service 
in  the  business  w^orld  is  further  suggested  by  his  directorship  in  the  Berk- 
shire Life  Insurance  Company,  the  Third  National  Bank  of  Pittsfield, 
and  as  trustee  of  the  Berkshire  County  Savings  Bank.  He  was  one  of 
the  incorporators  and  original  stockholders  and  is  one  of  the  board  of 


406  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

directors  of  the  Berkshire  Street  Raihvay  Company.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  Grace  Episcopal  church,  of  DaUon,  of  which  he  has  heen  a 
warden  since  its  estabhshment  in  1892. 

He  was  married,  June  14,  1893,  to  Edith  C,  daughter  of  Edward  S. 
Brewer,  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  ^^^eston  have  four 
children  :    Corinne,  Byron,  Elizabeth,  and  Julia  Caroline. 


WILLL\M  HENRY  DEMONT. 

William  Henry  Demont,  who  occupies  a  high  place  in  the  business 
circles  of  Pittsfield,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  was  born  July  26, 
1841,  a  son  of  John  Demont  (sometimes  spelled  Dermont),  and  one  of 
six  children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  who  married  William  Miller;  they 
make  their  home  in  Bridgeport,  Connecticut;  Jeannette,  who  married 
Joseph  Home,  of  Adams,  Massachusetts ;  ^^'illiam  H.,  mentioned  at 
length  hereinafter;  'Ann,  who  married  Henry  Waters,  of  Adams;  James, 
who  married  Adeline  ,  of  Adams;  jNIarion,  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Andrews;  they  reside  in  Adams,  and  have  one  child,  Lena,  who  is 
the  supervisor  of  drawing  in  Huntington,  Massachusetts,  and  a  very 
talented  young  woman.  The  father  of  these  children,  John  Demont,  was 
a  native  of  Renfrewshire  Bridge,  Scotland,  who  in  1854  emigrated  to 
this  country,  locating  in  Adams,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  was  engaged  for  a  year  in  the  cotton  industries.  In  1855  he 
was  enabled  to  send  for  his  family. 

William  Henry  Demont  accjuired  but  a  limited  education.  At  the 
age  cf  nine  years  he  was  in  actual  employment  as  assistant  to  a  cotton 
and  silk  printer  in  his  native  land,  and  three  years  later  was  employed 
in  a  cotton  mill.  After  his  removal  to  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  he 
learned  the  trade  of   machinist,   which   occupation   he   followed   during 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  407 

the  remainder  of  bis  active,  working  life.     In  1873  he  removed  to  Pitts- 
field,  where  he  was  engaged  at  his  trade  in  the  Taconic  mill.     After  a 
few  years'  service  in  the  latter  place  Mr.  Demont  entered  the  Bell  Ais 
mill  remaining  there  for  eleven  years,  and  the  succeeding  fifteen  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  Pontoosnc  Woolen  Company  as  millwright  and 
machinist.     "Mr.  Demont  is  a  first-class  mechanic  and  excellent  business 
man.     He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  builders  of  the  North  street  heights, 
which  is  now  covered  with  many  beautiful  attractne  homes.     He  is  ex- 
tensively interested  in  real  estate,  and  since  his  retirement   from  active 
business  life  in  1898  has  devoted  his  attention  to  his  real  estate  interests. 
Mr.  Demont  is  a  man  who  lias  reached  a  high  place  in  business  circles 
through  his  own  exertion  and  perseverance.      He  started   in   life   with 
very-  few  advantages,  a  limited  education,  and  no  capital  except  those 
success-bringing   qualities,    unfailing   energy,    determination   and   perse- 
verance, and  has  reached  an  enviable  place   in  the  ranks  of  successful 
and  prosperous  business  men.     Politically,   ^Ir.   Demont   affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party.     He  and  his  family  are  regular  and  consistent  at- 
tendants of  the  South  Congregational  church.     In  1864  William  Henry 
Demont  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  ^leal.  and  the  following 
named  children  were  the  issue  of  this  union:    Carrie,  born  1865.  married 
Thomas  Holmes;    they  reside  in  Pittsfield  and  have  one  child,  Florence 
E.;  Fred  Albert,  born  in  1871,  married  Annie  Wright,  of  North  Adams; 
they  make  tlicir  home  in  Watcrvliet.  New  York,  and  have  one  daughter. 
In   1871   Airs.  Demont  died,  and  William  H.  Demont  married  for  his 
second  wife  Eliza  O'Brien.     One  son.  William  Henry,  Jr.,  was  born  to 
them.      He  married  Jessie   Dickie   and   they    live   in    W^atertown,    New 
York.     In   1880  Eliza  (O'Brien)   Demont  died,  and  Mr.   Demont  took 
for  his  third  ^^•ife  Susan  E.  Teeling,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Susan 
Teeling,  of  Rensselaer,  New  York. 


408  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

FRANK  MORTIMER  WATERS. 

That  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  narrative  has  been 
a  valnalDle  citizen  of  the  place  of  his  nativity,  is  attested  by  many  monu- 
ments of  a  most  enduring  kind  there  and  elsewhere  in  Berkshire  county — 
beautiful  homes  and  imposing  business  edifices,  the  stone  and  brickwork 
of  wdiich  were  erected  by  him ;  and  this  work  is  standing-  the  test  of  time, 
silent  but  forceful  tokens  of  the  rugged  honesty  which  is  the  crowning 
characteristic  of  the  builder. 

He  was  born  in  Adams,  April  27,  1844,  son  of  the  late  William  and 
Harriet  (Kane)  Waters,  natives  of  Berkshire  county,  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  Tbe  late  William  Waters  was  for  many  years  the  leading  mason 
of  Adams,  and  the  son,  Frank  Mortimer  Waters,  inherited  the  father's 
mechanical  skill.  The  latter  attended  the  public  schools  in  Adams  and 
began  the  learning  of  the  mason's  trade  under  his  father  and  continued  it 
at  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  whither  he  had  gone  with  the  expectation  of 
remaining.  Visiting  Adams  in  1864,  his  patriotism  was  aroused  and  he 
enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry  Regiment,  with 
which  command  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  civil  war. 

Returning  to  Adams,  he  was  employed  as  a  journeyman  mason  until 
1870,  when  he  entered  into  business  as  a  contractor  for  mason  work, 
which  vocation  he  has  followed  continuously  since,  meeting  with  the  suc- 
cess to  which  honest  workmanship,  honest  materials  and  general  business 
integrity  entitled  him.  His  own  home  is  located  upon  one  of  the  most 
charming  sites  for  residences  in  the  Berkshires,  and  near  it  are  a  number 
of  dwelling  houses  erected  and  owned  by  him.  His  building  operations 
have  extended  throughout  western  Massachusetts,  including  numerous 
large  structures  in  Pittsfield  and  North  Adams.  Mr.  \\'aters  was  one  of 
the  original   stockholders   of   the  Greylock   National   and   Co-operative 


^'' 


^%. 


^ 


V. 


<M,^.a^ 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  409 

Banks  of  Adams.  He  is  a  member  of  Berkshire  Lodge.  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  and  Berkshire  Chapter.  Royal  Arch  INTasons.  The  family 
chnrch  connection  is  Methodist.  Mr.  Waters  having"  been  for  ten  years 
one  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Adams  Methodist  Episcopal  chnrch. 

He  married,  in  1867,  Mary  A.  Andrews,  of  Cambridge.  New  York, 
who  died  in  i8go,  her  son,  George  L.,  having  been  b(irn  in  1876  and 
died  in  1878.  Mr.  Waters  married  (second)  February  27.  1894.  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Baum)  Goettel,  of  Syra- 
cuse, New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waters  have  a  daughter,  Frances  Louise 
Waters,  bom  May  31,  1896.  Mrs.  Waters  is  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Philip 
Goettel,  who  was  pastor  from  1893  to  1898  of  Adams  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  is  now  in  the  ministry  in  Troy,  New  York.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 

WTLLL\M  AUGUSTUS  FULLER. 

Dr.  Samuel  Fuller  (i),  the  progenitor  of  the  Fuller  family  in  Amer- 
ica, was  of  English  birth,  had  been  a  deacon  in  John  Robinson's  church 
in  Leyden,  Holland,  and  in  1620  came  to  Pl}'mouth  Colony  in  the  "  May- 
flower," being  one  of  the  signers  of  the  famous  compact  in  the  cabin 
of  that  memorable  ship.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  brother,  Edward 
Fuller,  who  is  said  to  have  been  a  lawyer,  and  to  ha\'e  drafted  that  his- 
toric instrument.  Edward  Fuller  died  during  the  first  terrible  winter 
at  Plymouth,  leaving  one  son,  who  was  brought  up  by  his  uncle,  Dr. 
Samuel  Fuller,  as  shown  in  the  will  of  the  latter. 

Dr.  Samuel  Fuller  was  the  first  physician  in  Plymouth  Colony,  and 
his  will,  the  first  to  be  recorded  there,  can  still  lie  seen  in  Plymouth 
Colony  Records,  volume  i,  part  i,  page  22.  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller 
was    married    three    times;    his    first    wife,    Elsie    (Glasscock)     l^iller. 


410  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

died  in  England;  his  second  wife,  Agnes  (Carpenter)  Fuller,  died  in 
Leyden;  his  third  wife,  Bridget  (Lee)  Fuller,  whom  he  married  in 
Leyden  in  1617,  did  not  accompany  him  on  the  "  Mayflower,"  but  came 
over  in  the  "Anne"  in  1623.  Two  children  were  born  to  Dr.  Fuller: 
Samuel  and  Mercy. 

Samuel  Fuller  (2),  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller,  was  born'in  1624  and 
died  August  17,  1695.  He  had  been  deacon  of  the  church  at  Plymouth 
and  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at  Middleboro, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  ordained  December  26,  1694,  but  under  a  li- 
cense to  preach  and  exhort  he  labored  sixteen  years  prior  to  his  ordina- 
tion.    He  married  Elizabeth  Brewster. 

Dr.   Lsaac   Fuller    (3),    son  of   Samuel  and   Elizabeth    (Brewster) 
Fuller,  died  in  1727. 

Samuel  Fuller  (4)  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Isaac  and  Mary  (Eddy)  Fuller. 

Zadock  Fuller  (5),  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Thompson) 
Fuller,  was  born  in  Halifax,  Massachusetts,  September  19,  1744,  and 
died  in  Lanesboro,  Massachusetts,  September  17,  1818.  The  name  of 
Zadock  Fuller  appears  with  rank  of  private  on  muster  roll,  company  re- 
turns, and  among  signatures  on  order  for  bounty  in  Captain  John  Brad- 
ford's company,  Colonel  Theophilus  Cotton's  regiment,  eight  months' 
service,  in  1775.  (Massachusetts  Records,  volume  14,  page  36;  Volume 
56.  page  71 ;  \Tjlume  57,  file  8.)  He  married  Alice  Porter,  December  3, 
1767. 

Jabez  Fuller  (6),  son  of  Zadock  and  Alice  (Porter)  Fuller,  was 
born  January  27,  1773,  in  Halifax,  Massachusetts,  and  died  July  31, 
1855,  in  Lanesboro,  Massachusetts.  He  acquired  a  common  school  edu- 
cation, followed  the  c^uiet  but  useful  calling  of  agriculture,  was  a  Con- 
gregationalist  in  religion,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  married 
Hannah  Tuttle,  born  in  Hamptonburg,  Orange  county,  New  York,  1780, 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  411 

in  the  first  house  erected  in  that  township.  She  was  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Orange  county,  and  belonged  to  the  Bull  family, 
well  known  in  the  history  of  Orange  county. 

William  Augustus  Fuller  (7),  son  of  Jabez  and  Hannah  (Tuttle) 
Fuller,  was  born  in  Lanesboro,  Massachusetts,  April  29,  1815.  After 
completing-  a  common  school  education  he  ser\ed  in  the  capacity  of 
teacher  many  years,  a  position  for  which  he  was  well  qualified.  Later 
he  was  superintendent  of  works  for  the  digging  of  white  cjuartz  sand 
at  Cheshire  and  at  Berkshire,  Massachusetts.  From  1856  to  1868-69, 
a  period  of  between  twelve  and  thirteen  years,  he  was  a  merchant  in  Lanes- 
boro, was  identified  for  many  years  with  the  Berkshire  Glass  Company, 
and  from  1875  ^o  1897,  a  period  of  twenty-two  years,  was  the  manager 
of  the  Page  &  Harding  Glass  Company's  store  at  Berkshire.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  at  various  times  filled  the  offices  of  town  clerk, 
assessor,  a  member  of  the  school  committee,  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
joined  the  Lanesboro  Congregational  church  in  1846,  in  which  body  he 
served  as  clerk  for  thirty-eight  years,  deacon  for  twenty  years,  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Union 
Chapel  at  Berkshire,  erected  in  1888,  and  was  superintendent  of  Berk- 
shire Sunday  school  from  1875  ^^  1897.  He  belonged  to  Upton  Lodge, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Cheshire,  Massachusetts. 

William  Augustus  P\iller  married  (first),  1837,  Adelia  Weed,  of 
Lanesboro,  Massachusetts,  daughter  of  Enoch  and  Sila  Weed,  and  two 
children  were  born  to  them:  i.  Rose  Ellen,  born  in  1841,  died  Novem- 
ber 22,  1848;  2.  Herbert  Augustus,  liorn  June  6,  1842,  died  April  20, 
1893;  he  was  register  of  deeds  in  Northern  Berkshire  District,  at 
Adams,  Massachusetts.  Fie  married  Gertrude  Allen,  September  25,  1864, 
and  their  children  were :  Emma  Adelia,  Eva  Lillian,  Ella  May,  and 
Katie  Benton  Chamberlain.     Herbert  A.  Fuller  married  (second)  Nellie 


412  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

T.  Moore,  March  5,  1884,  ^"cl  they  were  tlie  parents  of  one  child,  Ninon 
Letice  Fuller.  William  A.  Fuller  married  (second),  at  Cheshire,  Massa- 
chusetts, October  14,  1856,  Mary  Cole,  daughter  of  David  and  Polly 
(Rice)  Cole,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  one  child,  Mary  Anna  (Ben- 
nett), born  December  i,  1861,  graduated  from  Wellesley  College,  1884, 
and  follows  the  vocation  of  teacher.  William  Augustus  Fuller  died 
June  5,  1897. 

VALMORE  AUGUSTUS  WHITAKER. 

V'^almore  Augustus  W'hitaker,  treasurer  of  the  North  Adams  Sav- 
ings Bank,  and  honored  and  respected  in  financial  and  business  circles 
in  western  Massachusetts,  was  born  March  14,  1835,  in  the  city  which 
is  yet  his  home.  He  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Ezra  and  Mary  Whit- 
aker,  who  occupied  a  house  on  the  Peter  Tower  farm  on  the  west  road 
to  Adams.     They  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 

Ezra  D.  Whitaker,  father  of  Valmore  A.  Whitaker,  was  born  in 
North  Adams,  June  21,  1797,  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  some  time  in  Hancock,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  The  Notch.  From  1829  until  1835  ^'^^  ^^'^^  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  in  Troy,  New  York,  but  with  the  exception  of 
that  period  he  was  for  fifty  years  identified  with  business  interests  in 
North  Adams.  He  was  associated  at  different  times  with  Ezra  Brown 
and  Giles  Tinker  and  was  identified  with  various  interests,  industrial  and 
commercial  pursuits  in  North  Adams.  He  was  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising", was  also  the  first  expressman  and  insurance  agent  in  the  town, 
and  was  the  treasurer  of  the  North  Adams  Savings  Bank  for  fifteen 
years.  He  continued  in  the  insurance  business  until  he  transferred  this 
to  his  son  Clarence,  and  he  was  succeeded   in  the  treasurership  in  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  413 

bank  by  bis  son  Vahnore  A.  In  1874  he  retired  from  business,  after  a 
long",  useful  and  active  career,  having  acquired  a  handsome  competence 
that  classed  him  with  the  substantial  citizens  of  western  Massachusetts. 
He  was  not  alone  prominent,  however,  as  a  representative  of  commer- 
cial and  financial  interests,  but  was  also  influential  in  public,  political  and 
military  circles.  From  1845  until  1855  he  held  the  office  of  trial  justice 
in  North  Adams,  and  in  1840  represented  his  district  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture. He  was  an  advocate  of  the  Whig-  party  until  its  dissolution  and 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  and  continued  one  of  the  stalwart 
supporters  of  the  latter  until  his  demise.  In  1830  he  was  commissioned  a 
captain  in  the  state  militia,  and  was  thus  closely  connected  with  the  mili- 
tary interests  of  the  state.  He  was  a  Master  Mason  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  May  4,  1889,  was  the  last  sur\i\-ing  charter 
member  of  LaFayette  Lodge.  On  July  9,  1845,  ^""^  united  with  the 
Baptist  church,  of  which  he  remained  an  active  and  consistent  member 
until  his  death.  Ezra  D.  Whitaker  was  twice  married.  In  18 18  he 
wedded  Julia  A.  Lapham  and  they  had  one  daughter,  Mrs.  D.  W.  Mc- 
Elwain.  On  September  30,  1824,  he  married  his  second  wife,  Amanda 
M.  Jones,  who  had  six  children,  but  two,  Eug-ene  and  Julia,  died  in  in- 
fancy. Those  who  lived  to  maturit}-  ^vere  Mortimer,  who  was  judge 
of  the  district  court  of  Chicopee  and  died  in  1863;  Valmore  A.;  Ezra 
J.,  who  ranked  as  chief  engineer  in  the  United  States  navy  and  died 
August  20,  1895;  and  Clarence,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  the  insur- 
ance business  and  died  March  19,  1886.  The  parents  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  September  30,   1874,  and  the  mother  died  August  20, 

1875- 

Valmore  A.  Whitaker  was  educated  in  the  ])ublic  schools  and  at 
Drury  Academy,  from  which  latter  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1851. 
He  entered  upon  his  business  career  as  a  salesman  in  a  store  in  North 


414  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

Adams,  where  lie  remained  for  three  years,  and  was  then  employed  in 
the  same  capacity  by  his  cousin.   L.   W.   McFarland,  a  cloak  dealer  in 
New  York  city,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1855.     ^^^  that  vear  he  re- 
turned to  North  Adams  and  was  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  Austin  Magee. 
In  April,  1857,  he  took  a  course  at  Comer's  Commercial  College  at  Bos- 
ton, and  in  the  following  July  accepted  a  position  as  bookkeeper  for  the 
New  York  dry  goods   joljbing  house  of  J.   A.    Sweetsei'  &   Company. 
Owing  to  a  business  depression  he  was  idle  for  a  few  months,  but  was 
recalled  January  i.   1858.  and  remained  with  this  firm  until  its  dissolu- 
tion in  1863.     In  the  meantime  he  had  been  advanced  through  consecu- 
tive stages  until  he  was  head  bookkeeper  for  the  hcjuse.     Mr.  Whitaker 
was  next  employed  by  the  larg^e  woolen  commission  house  of  John  Slade 
&  Company,  with  whom  he  remained  for  five  vears.     Going  to  Hunt- 
ington, Massachusetts,  in  1868.  he  was  engaged  in  the  cotton  manufac- 
turing business  with  his  brother  Clarence  until  December  of  that  year, 
when,   on  account  of  his  father's  advanced  age.   he   returned  to   North 
Adams  tO'  accept  the  position  of  assistant  treasurer  in  the  savings  bank. 
He  succeeded  his  father  as  treasurer  on  the   15th  of  October.   1872,  at 
which  time  the  deposits  of  the  bank  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars.     He  was  soon  afterward  elected  a  trustee  of  the  insti- 
tution, and  for  many  years  has  had  full  charge  of  its  financial  afifairs. 
Under  his  capable  guidance  the  bank  has   steadily   developed,  its  busi- 
ness growing  to  extensive  proportions.      Th.e  deposits  now  amount  to 
nearly  fi\-e  million  dollars,  and  the  bank  is  one  of  the  largest  savings 
institutions  in  western  JMassachusetts.     Mr.  \\niitaker  stands  prominent 
as  a  representative  of  financial  interests  in  this  part  of  the  state,  possess- 
ing a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  banking  business  and  the  keen  fore- 
sight and  executive  ability  that  enable  him  to  so  control  the  affairs  of 
the  institution  as  to  make  it  one  of  the  leading,  reliable,  moneyed  con- 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  415 

cerns  of  the  commnnity.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Xorth  Adams  Na- 
tional Bank  and  North  Adams  Trust  Company.  He  was  formerly  chair- 
man of  the  prudential  committee  of  the  North  Adams  Fire  District,  and 
actively  interested  in  the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  city.  He  has  heen 
the  champion  of  many  measures  for  the  general  g-ood  and  has  assisted 
in  manv  movements  that  have  resulted  l^eneficially  for  North  Adams. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  for  some  time  acted  as  chair- 
man of  the  finance  committee  after  the  incorporation  of  North  Adams. 
For  fiA'e  years  he  was  ])resident  of  the  city  council,  and  exercised  his 
official  prerogatiA'es  in  the  material  advance  and  substantial  improvement 
of  the  municipality.  His  ]>olitical  support  is  gis-en  to  the  Republican 
part}'  and  he  is  unfaltering  in  the  advocacy  of  its  principles,  believing 
that  they  contain  the  best  elements  of  good  government.  He  has  been 
a  student  of  the  signs  of  the  times,  has  informed  himself  concerning  the 
needs  and  possibilities  of  his  city,  and  his  efforts  have  been  discerningly 
directed  along  lines  resulting  in  successful  accomplishment  for  North 
Adams. 

In  1867  Mr.  A\nutaker  was  married  to  Miss  Sara  Reins,  of  New 
York  city,  who  died  in  November,  1871,  and  in  December,  1873,  he 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Emma  L.  Beckwith,  of  East  Lyme,  Con- 
necticut. She  Avas  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  L.  Beckwith,  and 
at  the  time  of  her  marriage  accompanied  her  husband  to  North  Adams, 
where  she  continued  to  reside  until  her  demise.  Tn  her  earlv  girlhood 
she  joined  the  Ba]itist  church,  and  was  a  consistent  meml;er  of  that  de- 
nomination for  more  than  half  a  century.  She  was  acti\e  in  the  work 
of  the  church  and  its  societies  until  her  health  forbade  further  labors 
in  that  direction.  Her  interest  centered  in  her  home,  and  while  her  life 
in  many  respects  was  quietly  passed,  she,  nevertheless,  possessed  a  charm- 
ing personality,   a    familiarity   with    literature   and    a   kindly    spirit   that 


41 G  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

gained  her  warm  and  enduring  friendships  and  caused  her  death  to  be 
deeply   deplored.      She   was   a   charter   member   of   Fort   Massachusetts 
Chapter,  D.  A.   R..  and  continued  her  connection  therewith  up  to  the 
time  of  her  death,  November  29,   1904.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitaker  had 
one   son,   Ezra  D.   Whitaker,  who  is  the  assistant   treasurer  of  North 
Adams  Savings  Bank,  and  who'  was  elected  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil, December  20,   1904.     Mr.  V.   A.  Whitaker  was  made  a  Mason  at 
Greylock    Lodg'e    in    187 1,    and    became   a    member    of   the   Composite 
Chapter,  R.  A.  M.     He  was  at  one  time  trustee  of  the  public  library, 
and  was  actively  connected  therewith  until  the  city  charter  went   into 
effect.     Since  1850'  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  he 
was  elected  its  clerk  on  March  17,  1876,  while  on  the  23d  of  May,  1887, 
he  was  chosen  one  of  its  deacons.     Largely  instrumental  in  securing  the 
erection  of  the  present  edifice,  he  is  now  serving  as  one  of  the  church 
trustees    and    for    twenty-five    years    was    connected    with    the    Sunday 
school.      He  was  largely  influential  in   founding"  a  local  branch  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  acted  as  chairman  of  the  first 
meeting  assembled  for  that  purpose.     Whatever  has  tended  to  promote 
the  material,  intellectual  and  moral  advancement  of  the  community  has 
received   his   endorsement   and    co-operation   and    he,    therefore,    stands 
to-day  as  one  of  the  representative  and  valued  citizens  of  North  Adams, 
He  resides  at  the  corner  of  Ashland  and  Ouincv  streets. 


WILLIAM  STERLING  MORTON. 

William  Sterling  Morton,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Adams, 
Massachusetts,  was  born  November  5,  1865,  in  Paisley,  Scotland.  He 
comes  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  Scotland,  and  his  grandfather  was 
engaged  in  the  weaving  of  shawls  at  Paisley.     The  family  were  identified 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  417 

with  the  Presbyterian  cjiurch  in  the  land  of  the  heather,  but  in  America 
became  connected  with  the  Congregational  denomination. 

Alexander  Morton,  father  of  William  Sterling  Morton,  was  born 
in  Paisley,  Scotland,  May  28,  1842.  He  was  a  self-educated  as  well  as 
self-made  man,  acquiring  his  knowledge  largely  through  his  reading, 
observation  and  experience  after  he  had  passed  the  period  of  early  youth. 
In  December,  1868,  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  America  and  settled 
in  North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  where  he  secured  employment  in  a 
mill  and  was  thus  engaged  for  ten  or  more  years.  Eventually  he  removed 
to  the  west  and  followed  farming  in  Crawford  county,  Iowa.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Ellen  Logan,  and  was  also  born  in  Paisley, 
Scotland,  November  10,  1842,  her  parents  being  William  and  Catherine 
(Emery)  Logan.  The  parents  were  identified  with  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  their  native  land,  and  in  America  joined  the  Congregational 
church. 

William  Sterling  Morton  was  a  little  lad  of  only  two  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  arriving  at  Briggsville,  Massa- 
chusetts on  the  loth  of  August,  1867.  When  he  was  only  eleven  years 
of  age  he  was  employed  in  the  old  Broadley  mill  at  Adams,  Massachu- 
setts, and  subsequentlv  removed  with  his  parents  to  Crawford  county, 
Iowa,  living  upon  the  old  farm  there.  Pie  attended  the  district  schools 
during  the  winter  months,  and  in  the  summer  seasons  was  largely  en- 
gaged at  the  work  of  the  fields  and  meadow.  He  taught  school  for  a 
year,  and  in  1884  entered  Drake  university  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  being 
graduated  from  the  law  department  of  that  institution  with  the  class  of 
June,  1889.  He  then  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  at  Castena,  Iowa, 
but  in  the  fall  of  that  year  abandoned  his  practice  and  removed  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Pullman  Palace  Car  Company 
in  its  machinery  department.     Returning  to  Crawford  county.  Iowa,  he 


^18  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

again  became  engaged  in  teaching  school  and  in  September,  1891,  re- 
entered the  practice  of  law  at  Guthrie,  Oklahoma.  In  June,  1893,  he  re- 
located in  Adams,  Massachusetts,  and  from  February,  1894,  to  the 
present  time  has  been  a  member  of  the  bar  and  enjoys  a  distinctively 
representative  clientage.  He  has  been  connected  with  much  of  the  im- 
portant litigation  tried  in  the  courts  of  his  district,  and  has  long  since 
demonstrated  his  right  to  rank  with  the  leading  members  of  the  bar 
here.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Morton  was  a  Democrat  until  the  cam- 
paign of  1896,  when  he  endorsed  the  Repulilican  platform  and  has  since 
been  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  that  party.  In  1900  he  was  a 
candidate  for  representative  from  this  district,  but  was  defeated.  In 
1901  he  w-as  appointed  special  justice  of  the  fourth  district  court  of 
Berkshire.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  community. 
He  belongs  to  the  First  Congregational  chiuxh  of  Adams,  and  in  1891 
became  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Dow 
City,  Iowa.  He  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  Caledonian  Club,  of  wdiich 
he  is  past  chief.  On  the  first  of  October,  igoi,  Mr.  Morton  was  married 
at  Adams,  Massachusetts,  to  Miss  Edith  ^Villiams  Marsh,  a  graduate 
of  the  high  school  of  this  city  and  afterward  a  successful  teacher  here. 
Her  parents  are  Oscar  W.  and  Delia  (Williams)  Marsh.  Her  father 
was  employed  by  the  Boston  &  Albany  Railroad  Company  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  enlisted  in  the  Forty-ninth  Massachusetts  \"olunteers 
at  the  time  of  the  civil  war  and  served  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  His 
W'ife  is  a  descendent  of  one  of  the  first  families  of  Lanesboro,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  among"  her  collateral  ancestral  connections  was  the  founder 
of  Williams  College.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  have  a  daughter,  Edith, 
born  April  18,  1905. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  il'J 

PATRICK  HENRY  BOSSIDY. 

Patrick  Henry  Bossidy  is  the  genial  and  popular  proprietor  of  the 
Morgan  House,  Lee,  Massachusetts,  who  in  1902  thoroughly  repaired 
the  interior,  built  a  new  veranda  and  put  in  electric  lights,  steam  heat, 
bath  rooms,  and  made  the  house  in  every  respect  a  modern  and  com- 
fortable place  for  the  traveling  public.  Since  these  changes  the  house 
has  become  more  popular  and  its  patronage  has  greatly  increased.  The 
Morgan  House  has  always  borne  a  good  reputation,  even  in  the  days 
when  the  landlords  were  handicapped  for  want  of  modern  conveniences, 
and  to-day  its  bill  of  fare  is  abreast  with  public  houses  far  more  pre- 
tentious in  size  and  location.  The  Abjrgan  House  has  been  a  ]mblic 
house  in  Lee  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and  clustered  about  it  are  many 
pleasant  memories  of  a  bygone  generation,  of  stories  told  before  its 
hospitable  fireplace,  of  suppers  by  lodges,  societies,  and  priwate  parties 
enjoyed  ab(^ut  its  board,  and  many  things  of  a  pul^lic  nature  which  have 
made  it  a  center  of  interest  from  the  days  when  it  was  a  country  tavern 
to  its  position  to-dav  as  a  modern,  comiuercial  hotel.  Before  it  became 
a  taverti,  even  as  the  priA-ate  residence  of  Esquire  Porter,  it  had  an  at- 
traction beyond  that  of  an  ordinary  dwelling  house,  for  Esquire  Porter 
was  the  leading  man  of  the  town  in  his  day.  the  most  hospitable  and 
influential. 

There  are  manv  things  in  the  past  history-  of  Lee's  taverns  and 
hotels  which  our  histories  are  silent  about,  and  the  few  facts  we  are  able 
to  give  concerning  the  Morgan  PTouse  are  from  deeds  and  the  memories 
of  older  residents.  The  first  hotel  or  public  house  was  a  log  cabin,  six- 
teen feet  square,  located  in  the  hollow  near  the  residence  of  B.  H. 
Taintor.  and  there  was  a  similar  structure  in  East  Lee.  The  first  build- 
ing deserving;  the  name  of  a  tavern  was  the  Red  Lion  Tnn  at  the  corner 


420  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

of  Park  and  Housatonic  streets.  This  was  built  in  1778  by  Nathan 
Dilhngham,  and  conducted  as  a  pubHc  house  until  1834.  This  old  tavern 
was  situated  at  what  was  a  vantage  point  in  those  early  days,  near  the 
confluence  of  the  stage  road  to  Cape  street  and  beyond,  now  known  as 
Maple,  and  roads  leading  north  and  south.  Housatonic  street  was  not 
cut  through  in  those  days.  The  Red  Lion  Inn  was  in  the  corner  of 
Pease's  yard,  near  the  big  elm,  and  after  it  outlived  its  usefulness  as  a 
hotel  was  moved  south  of  the  school  house,  at  a  point  now  between  E.  B. 
Ramsdell's  and  F.  A.  Phelps'  residences.  In  1778  a  man  by  the  name 
of  William  Coal  built  the  Housatonic  house  where  Memorial  Hall  now 
stands.  The  Housatonic  house  was  bought  by  Mr.  Hicks  and  remodeled 
in  1864  to  a  large  and  fine  looking  hotel.  Two  years  later  it  was  burned 
and  never  rebuilt.  In  1803  Jedediah  Crocker  had  a  public  house  in  East 
Lee.  Pliny  Shaylor  had  won  a  mile  or  two  farther  east,  and  in  1820 
"  Sam  "  Sturgis  opened  the  Strickland  house.  In  old  stage  coach  times 
the  Merrill,  T.  L.  Foote  and  Jared  Bradley  houses  were  used  for  some 
years  as  hotels. 

In  1854  George  Van  Deusen  opened  the  Center  hotel  in  the  Ives 
house  at  the  north  end  of  Main  street  and  conducted  it  until  1871  or 
'72,  when  it  was  boug'ht  by  Thomas  Norton  and  continued  until  his 
fancy  cake  manufacturing  business  grew  to  such  proportions  as  to  claim 
all  his  time  and  attention.  William  Porter  came  to  Lee  in  181 7,  and 
from  that  time  to  1853  was  the  leading  lawyer.  When  he  came  into 
possession  of  his  residence,  or  how,  we  have  been  unable  to  find,  even 
after  much  research.  Edward  Morgan,  a  stone  cutter,  came  to  Lee  in 
1852,  and  a  short  time  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Porter  he  went  tO'  live  in 
his  house  and  began  taking  boarders,  one  of  them  being  the  late  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  Byron  Weston,  then  learning  the  paper  business  in 
May  &  Rogers'  Mill. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  421 

After  the  Hicks  house  was  burned  in  1867,  Mr.  Morgan  opened 
his  residence  as  a  hotel.  He  enlarged  the  house  in  1868  and  again  in 
1 87 1,  and  conducted  it  until  August,  1880,  when  he  sold  the  business  to 
H.  C.  Winegar  &  Son.  He  bought  it  back,  however,  in  November  of 
that  year  and  continued  as  landlord  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  January, 
1885.  Lee  was  a  horse  town  of  much  note  in  those  days,  and  Mr.  Mor- 
gan was  a  lover  of  horses  and  kept  a  stable  in  connection  with  the  house. 
We  find  that  the  building  was  deeded  to  Benjamin  Dean  by  Benjamin 
Bosworth,  March  29,  1858;  by  Benjamin  Dean  to  William  Taylor,  in 
i860;  by  William  Taylor  to  Edwin  Morgan,  August  26,  1864;  by 
Edwin  Morgan  to  F.  S.  Gross,  March  3,  1883;  by  F.  S.  Gross  to  Henry 
M.  Pitt  (W.  P.  Burbank),  September  28,  1891 ;  by  Henry  M.  Pitt  to 
P.  H.  and  E.  H.  Bossidy,  April  15,  1902.  The  landlords  following 
Edward  Morgan  were  W.  C.  Winegar  in  May,  1883;  C.  E.  Morgan  in 
January,  1884;  John  Benjamin,  October,  1885;  C.  E.  Morgan,  Febru- 
ary, 1887;  J.  H.  Wood,  May,  1889;  C.  E.  Morgan,  October,  1892; 
P.  H.  Bossidy,  April,  1902. 


HENRY  MARCELLUS  SMITH,  M.  D. 

As  that  of  an  able  physician  and  public-spirited  citizen  the  name  of 
Dr.  Henry  j^.J.  Smith,  of  Lee.  is  familiar  throughout  Berkshire  county. 
He  is  the  son  of  Eli  and  Mary  (Chapin)  Smith,  and  was  born  March 
12,  1852,  in  Sheffield,  Massachusetts. 

Dr.  Smith  received  his  primary  education  in  the  common  schools, 
afterward  attending  the  Berkshire  Institute  at  New  Marlborough.  On 
leaving  school  he  became  clerk  in  a  drug  store,  where  he  remained  four- 
teen years,  thus  gaining  experience  which  proved  no  doubt  of  great 
value  to  him  in  his  professional  career.    Dr.  John  Swinburne,  of  Albany, 


422  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

was  the  preceptor  of  Dr.  Smith  and  the  latter  was  matriculated  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  and  1885  received 
from  that  institution  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession.  For  sixteen  years 
he  has  served  on  the  board  of  health  and  is  still  a  member  of  that  body. 
Although  devoted  to  his  profession,  he  participates  actively  in  com- 
munity affairs  and  for  the  last  seven  years  has  held  the  office  of  select- 
man. He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Lee  fire  department.  Dr.  Smith  was 
induced  to  enter  for  a  brief  period  the  wider  field  of  state  politics  and 
in  1895  represented  the  Sixth  Berkshire  District  in  the  legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  serving  on  public  health  and  agriculture  committees.  He 
is  a  member  of  Evening  Star  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  (Lee)  Royal  Arch 
Chapter,  Great  Barrington;  Berkshire  Council,  Pittsfield ;  Berkshire  Com- 
mandery,  and  Lenox  Consistory.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Lee 
Grange,  and  belongs  to  the  Shaw  Pond  Fishing  Club.  Dr.  Smith  mar- 
ried, November  3,  1875,  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Cahill,  formerly  of  Lee. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  one  son,  Edgar  M.,  who  is  a  member  of  the 
grocery  firm  of  Smith  &  Smith,  of  Lee. 

HENRY  MORGAN  WHITE. 

There  are  probably  few  persons  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts  who 
would  not  at  once  recognize  the  name  of  Henry  Morgan  White,  of  Lee, 
as  that  of  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Berkshire  Gleaner. 
Through  both  his  parents  Mr.  White  comes  of  good  colonial  and  Rev- 
olutionary stock.  His  family  is  allied  to  that  of  the  Hookers,  and  his 
ancestors  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts. 
He  is  of  the  blood  of  Miles  Morgan,  whose  statue  adorns  the  court 
square  of  that  historic  city. 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  423 

Henry  Morg-an  W'liite  was  horn  June  24,  1847,  i"  Elba,  New  York, 
and  is  the  son  of  the  late  George  Hall  and  Eliza  (Morgan)  AMiite. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Eranklin  Academy,  Shel- 
burne  Falls,  Massachusetts.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  obtained  em- 
ployment with  the  Northampton  Cutlery  Company,  by  which  he  was 
successively  jjromoted  until  he  had  attained  a  position  second  to  that 
of  its  superintendent,  having  charge  of  three  of  the  departments  of  that 
estate.  Subseciuently  he  became  a  traveler  for  a  New  York  hardware 
firm,  with  which  he  contirmed  to  be  associated  for  a  period  of  five  years. 
In  1882  he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  Torriiigtoii  {Connecticut) 
Register,  a  weekly  newspaper,  shortl}-  thereafter  purchasing  the  re- 
maining interest.  He  continued  this  work  with  a  constant  increase  of 
success,  and  in  seven  years  recognized  the  wisdom  of  establishing  a 
daily  in  conjunction  with  the  weekly  publication,  and  the  Torring- 
ton  Daily  Register  was  the  first  daily  paper  in  a  town  of  like  size  in 
the  state.  Under  his  skillful  management  the  journal  grew  until  it  at- 
tained to  the  size  of  an  eight-page  paper  and  gave  employment  to  twelve 
persons.  During  this  period  Mr.  White  took  an  active  interest  in  lit- 
erary work,  being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  ''  Twenty-One  Club,""  the 
membership  of  which  grew  to  about  eighty  acti\e  workers.  In  1898  Mr. 
White  disposed  of  the  paper  to  a  syndicate  and  went  to  Boston,  where 
he  bought  the  Dorchester  Beacon.  After  the  expiration  of  two  years 
he  returned  to  Torrington,  where  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  office 
of  an  electric  company.  November  15,  1902,  Mr.  White  purchased  the 
Berkshire  Gleaner.  This  ]:iaper  was  founded  in  1857  by  Charles 
French  and  Josiah  A.  Royce,  and  in  the  hands  of  the  present  editor  and 
proprietor  is  fully  sustaining  its  reputation  as  a  vigorous  and  able  pub- 
lication. Mr.  \\'hite  has  once  and  only  once  been  prevailed  upon  to 
exchange  the  field  of  literature  to  enter  the  political  field.      In   iSgr  he 


424  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the  general  assembly,  and  served 
on  the  committee  on  education,  of  which  John  Addison  Porter  was 
chairman.  For  nine  years  he  was  a  director  in  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  of  I'orrington.  He  was  superintendent  for  five  years 
of  a  Baptist  Sunday  school  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  and  held 
the  same  position  in  a  Sunday  school  in  Torrington  for  four  }'ears.  the 
latter  school  being  attached  to  a  Congregational  church.  At  one  time 
he  presided  o\-er  the  social  work  of  the  Hanson  Place  Baptist  church, 
Brooklyn.  New  York.  Personally  Mr.  White  is  extremely  popular. 
He  was  married  December  8,  1874.  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  to  H. 
Minnie,  daughter  of  the  late  John  B.  Cole. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  WEASER. 

William  Henry  Weaser,  a  leading  optician  in  the  city  of  his  nativ- 
ity, was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  July  31,  1869.  He  is  a  son 
of  Frank  and  Veronica  (Siegfried)  Weaser,  natives  of  Bavaria,  whence 
they  came  in  youth  to  the  United  States,  resided  for  a  few  years  in 
New  York,  were  there  married  and  came  thence  to  Pittsfield. 

William  H.  Weaser  attended  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Pitts- 
field, and  then  entered  Pernin  Business  College  of  Detroit,  Michigan, 
for  the  special  purpose  of  accpiiring  the  Pernin  system  of  stenography. 
Two  interests  served  to  divert  him  from  a  half-formed  purpose  to 
enter  mercantile  life,  the  one  an  ardent  love  of  music,  the  other  a  strong 
inclination  to  study  medicine.  The  first  led  to  his  early  connection 
with  the  Pittsfield  band  and  other  semi-professional  musical  organiza- 
tions, and  he  subsequently  became  a  member  of  the  Musicians'  Union 
and  as  an  accomplished  cornetist  made  his  last  professional  appearance 
in   1893   during  the  World's  Fair  at  Chicago.      His  inclination  to  the 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  425 

study  of  medicine  led  to  his  devotion  to  that  science  of  his  spare  time 
from  musical  culture,  and  this  was  subsecpently  supplemented  by  two 
years  of  close  and  constant  application  under  competent  medical  pre- 
ceptorship.  Concentrating  his  attention  upon-  diseases  of  the  eye  and 
disordered  vision  generally,  he  eventually  determined  upon  the  profes- 
sion of  an  optician  as  his  life  work,  and  to  this  end  entered  the  New 
York  College  of  Optics  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
September,  1900.  Immediately  thereafter  he  returned  to  Pittsfield, 
where  he  established  himself  in  business  in  the  Wright  block,  and  has 
met  with  substantial  success  in  his  chosen  profession.  An  invention  of 
Mr.  Weaser's,  recently  patented,  which  obtained  instant  recognition  as 
a  most  valuable  addition  for  optical  appliances,  is  an  eye-glass  mount- 
ing designed  to  prevent  a  change  in  the  axis  of  the  lens.  With  the 
mounting  in  question  the  lens  may  be  raised  or  lowered  by  placing  the 
guards  above  or  below  the  stud,  enabling  the  best  results  obtainable  in 
correcting  astigmatism.  An  additional  valuable  feature  of  this  mount- 
ing is  that  there  are  no  side  screws  to  loosen  or  to  cause  irritation  to  the 
nose,  as  is  the  case  with  all  other  mountings. 


ERNST  OSCAR  ENGSTROM. 

Ernst  O.  Engstrom,  a  pharmacist  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  was 
born  at  Trelleborg,  the  extreme  southern  town  of  Sweden,  August  7, 
1865.  His  father,  a  leading  merchant  of  Trelleborg,  died  during  the 
early  childhood  of  the  son,  and  his  mother  remarried  and  came  to 
America  with  her  family  in  1882,  locating  in  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Ernst  O.  Engstrom  received  his  initial  schooling  in  his  native  town 
and  completed  his  education  by  a  four  years'  high  school  course,  latter- 
ly at  Malmoe,  the  third  largest  city  of  Sweden.     The  following  three 


426  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

years  were  spent  as  one  of  tlie  office  force  in  the  salvage  and  commis- 
sion business  of  his  father's  former  partner,  and  this  was  interrupted 
by  the  removal  of  the  family  to  America.  Upon  his  arrival  here  he 
found  immediate  employment  with  an  uncle,  Mr.  Franz  L.  Braconier, 
a  pharmacist  of  Brockton,  Massachusetts.  During"  the  period  of  this 
service  he  entered  the  Massachusetts  College  of  Pharmacy  and  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  with  first  honors  in  1887.  In  that  year 
his  uncle,  aforementioned,  concluded  to  retire  from  business  and  to  re- 
turn to  his  native  land,  and  his  nephew  being  equipped  to  succeed  him 
at  once  entered  the  pharmacy  at  Brockton  and  conducted  the  business 
successfully  for  three  years.  At  the  end  of  this  period  of  time  his  uncle 
returned  to  the  United  States,  repurchased  his  old  store,  and  Mr.  Eng- 
strom  applied  the  money  that  he  had  made  and  saved  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  establishing,  in  conjunction  with  others,  a  shoe  manufacturing" 
business  at  Brockton  under  the  name  of  the  Brockton  Shoe  Co.,  of 
which  Mr.  Engstrom  was  elected  president.  Depressed  business  condi- 
tions of  1892  led  to  the  dissolution  of  this  company  in  that  year,  pay- 
ing, however,  one  hundred  cents  on  every  dollar  of  its  indebtedness, 
and  leaving  Mr.  Engstrom  with  little  save  a  dearly  purchased  experi- 
ence and  an  untarnished  reputation  for  business  integrity.  He  then  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  tra\eling  salesman  for  Fox,  Fulz  &  Co.,  wholesale 
druggists'  sundries,  dealers  of  New  York  and  Boston,  and  this  connec- 
tion continued  until  July  i,  1899,  the  date  of  his  purchase  of  a  half- 
interest  with  Carl  Hydren  of  a  pharmacy  which  the  latter  had  opened 
at  Pittsfield,  nine  years  earlier.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Engstrom  pur- 
chased his  partner's  interest  in  the  business,  and  he  has  since  continued 
to  conduct  the  same  with  a  satisfactory  measure  of  success.  He  is  a 
member  of  Mystic  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  Berkshire  Chap- 
ter, Royal  Arch  Masons;  Osceola  Lodge,  No.   125,  Independent  Order 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  427 

of  Odd  Fell'nvs:  Onota  Lodge,  No.  90,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen;  and  Onota  Conncil,  No.  568,  Royal  Arcanum.  ^Ir.  Eng- 
strom  was  married  in  September,  1896,  to  Mida  Louise  Hooper,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  William  Hooper,  late  president  of  the  Ticonderoga  Na- 
tional Bank  and  manager  of  the  Dixon  Graphite  Company's  mines  at 
Ticonderoga,  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Engstrom  are  members  of 
the  Pittsfield  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  the  latter  named  taking  an 
especial  and  active  official  interest  in  the  work  of  the  home  and  foreign 
missionary  societies  of  that  congregation. 


GEORGE  BARKER. 

The  mandolin  of  song  and  story  and  that  of  modern  workman- 
ship differentiate  as  markedly  as  do  the  old  and  new  devices  in  utili- 
tarian directions,  and  from  being  used  solely  as  a  crude  accompaniment 
to  the  voice,  it  has  been  demonstrated  to  contain  rare  possibilities  of 
instrumentation  under  the  touch  of  cultured  musicians.  In  tonal  quali- 
ties more  penetrating,  yet  daintier  and  sweeter  than  the  guitar,  the 
mandolin  has  long  since  supplanted  that  instrument  in  popular  favor 
and  is  fast  gaining  ground  upon  its  most  formidable  rival,  the  violin. 
Its  study  is  now  one  of  the  special  features  of  all  well-equipped  con- 
servatories of  music.  Among  the  master  minds  along  this  line  of  mod- 
ern musical  development  a  hrst  place  must  be  accorded  George  Barker, 
of  Pittsfield,  who  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  author  of  the 
first  mandolin  instructor  and  the  composer  of  the  first  music  puljlished 
in  the  Lnited  States  for  that  instrument,  and  the  first  teacher  of  the 
mandolin  in  New  England. 

He  was  born  March  9,  1852,  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  a  son  of 
Thomas  T.  and  Jane  L.   (Fuller)   Barker,  the  former  a  native  of  Not- 


428  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY 

tingham,  England,  and  the  latter  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Samuel  Fuller,  one  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers.  Thomas  T. 
Barker  (father)  was  a  lace  merchant,  a  business  to  which  he  naturally 
turned  as  a  native  of  one  of  the  most  famous  of  lace  manufacturing 
towns,  and  in  which  he  continued  to  be  engaged  up  to  the  time  of  his 
decease.  He  was  born  in  1813,  and  died  in  1873;  ^'^^^  wife  was  born 
June  17,  1830,  and  died  December  4,  1888. 

George  Barker  acquired  his  general  education  and  early  business 
training  in  Boston,  his  first  employment  being  with  the  Henry  Tolman 
music  house,  with  which  he  was  associated  for  several  years.  He  then 
yielded  tO'  a  youthful  longing  for  travel  and  adventure,  and  shipped  as 
an  ordinary  seaman  on  the  whaling  vessel  "  Alcyone  "  bound  for  the 
Indian  Ocean,  the  smallest  American  schooner  (92  tons  burthen)  that 
up  to  that  time  had  rounded  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  His  seafaring 
career  of  two  years  and  a  half  and  his  subsequent  travels  completed  his 
circumnavigation  of  the  globe,  and  involved  him  in  varied  experiences 
in  many  lands  and  satisfied  to  the  full  his  thirst  for  adventure.  He 
recalls  with  especial  vividness  a  landing  effected  by  the  little  craft  upon 
which  he  sailed  at  a  point  in  Tulu  Bay,  Madagascar,  where  the  vessel 
was  boarded  on  a  sultry  summer  day  by  the  native  king,  whose  royal 
costume  consisted  solely  of  a  heavy  winter  overcoat  and  a  plug  hat.  The 
king  condescended  to  accept  as  port  charges  a  bucket  of  hard  tack  and 
a  roll  of  calico,  and  he  took  personal  charge  of  the  goods.  It  is  strik- 
ingly illustrative  of  civilization's  giant  strides  that  at  this  very  point 
there  now  flourishes  a  town  containing  many  fine  dwelling  houses  and 
business  blocks,  and  which  is  supplied  with  such  up-to-date  equipments 
as  trolley  car  lines  and  electric  light  plants.  The  captains  of  such  ves- 
sels as  the  "  Alcyone  "  were  anything  but  tender  in  the  treatment  of 
their  crews,  and  the  hardships  and  brutality  to  which  he  was  subjected 


BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  429 

led  young-  Barker  to  put  into  execution  a  long  cherished  plan  for  de- 
sertion of  the  whaler,  and  when  at  a  port  in  the  Island  of  Mauritius  he 
succeeded  in  stowing-  himself  away  in  the  hold  of  an  English  vessel 
bound  for  Melbourne.  Australia.  His  Australian  experiences  embraced 
four  years'  employment  in  a  Melbourne  mercantile  establishment.  After 
his  return  to  America  he  entered  into  business  relations  with  a  brother 
and  they  established  a  laundry  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  at  the 
same  time  he  resumed  his  interest  in  music  and  again  took  up  the  study 
of  the  same.  In  1882  he  determined  to  devote  his  entire  time  to  the 
vocation  of  musical  instructor,  and  it  was  in  that  year  that  he  opened 
a  studio  in  Boston  and  instructed  pupils  on  the  gxiitar  and  shortly  there- 
after on  the  banjo  and  mandolin.  In  1886  his  first  mandolin  music  and 
his  mandolin  instructor,  mentioned  above,  were  published.  He  acquired 
instant  recognition  as  a  capable  writer  of  music,  and  speedily  won  an 
enviable  reputation  for  ability  as  a  teacher,  securing  a  large  patronage 
from  individual  pupils,  also  classes,  and  was  successively  employed  as 
instructor  of  mandolin,  guitar  and  banjo  in  the  music  departments  of 
Harvard,  Wellesley  and  Tufts  Colleges  and  Groton  School  for  Boys. 
His  Pittsfield  studio  is  in  the  Wright  block. 


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